The Bucks County Historical Society: Special Exhibits

Special Exhibits



	Everyday Rhythms September 13, 2008 – May 31, 2009 Everyday Rhythms showcases the unique ways in which people have used musical sounds to express themselves. On display are over 50 musical instrument artifacts from the museum’s collection including a variety of drums, banjos, bells and zithers. Also on view are unusual instruments like a Key Bugle, Hurdy Gurdy (wheel-operated fiddle) and Calithumpian Rattle (a giant noisemaker for special occasions). Interactive audio stations invite visitors to hear the sounds of some of the instruments. In the museum's Imagination Gallery, visitors can experiment with hands-on reproductions of instruments similar to the ones on view and to create their own sounds and music. Younger visitors will enjoy books and games related to the exhibit's theme. This Exhibit Has Been Generously Sponsored By: Malmark, Inc. – Bell Craftsmen The Bucks County Herald Puck – Studio quality music. Live. Law Offices of William L. Goldman, PC Budget Printing & Copy Center The Mercer Museum also thanks the following for their assistance and support: Greg C. Adams Hal Allert Appleseed Recordings, West Chester Ken Bloom Paul Boccadero The Bucks County Folk Music Shop Centerstream Publishing Featherbed Hill Questers Friends of the B.C.H.S. Hindman Settlement School King’s Path Questers Gail Lewis Ross Nickerson Pine Mountain Settlement School Pennsylvania State Questers Questers of Fonthill Butch Ross Peter Ross Ben Seymour, Kudzu Patch Dulcimers Ralph and Shizuko Smith Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Tim Twiss, Milford Music Carolyn Vice Ye Olde Almshouse Questers
	The Imagination Gallery Pluck, shake, rattle and play instruments featured in our current exhibit, Everyday Rhythms. The Imagination Gallery welcomes families to explore and enjoy hands-on musical activities or to take a break reading a story together. Look at historic music-related toys, listen to one of Henry Chapman Mercer's favortie story-songs, spin the "wheel of sound", play a tune, sing, and dance. Use your imagination and have fun!
	Animals on the Loose- Children's Exhibit “Animals on the Loose” invites the museum's youngest visitors (ages 3 to 8) and their families to join Henry Mercer's favorite dog, Rollo, on a hands-on, participatory adventure in search of "escaped" animal artifacts from the museum's collection. Along the way, children encounter curious creatures that include an owl-shaped andiron, a rocking horse, a fish weathervane, pottery chickens, a rabbit chocolate mold, an alligator hand puppet, and many more intriguing artifacts. The exhibit offers families a fun and very different way of experiencing the Mercer Museum and its collections.