Amazement Square (again) and Civil Rights

15 January 2010 - We ventured back to Amazement Square in Lynchburg, VA this time with our History Group and to focus on Civil Rights. Amazement Square is a four story building near the James River.  In the center is this amazing climbing structure.  The entrance is on the second floor.  Kids can climb down to the first or up to the fourth without using the stairs (which are amazing in themselves) or the elevator (which opens on both sides.

 

A new exhibit that opened up since we were there last time is one on accessibility.  The guide talked to us about various disabilities and the tools used to help people with those disabilities.

 

The kids got to try on different goggles that demonstrated what it was like to have different vision impairments. There was a children's book in braille and a braille machine.  They also talked about hearing imparements. 

There was a wall with different smells and another wall with different textures.  There was a short bowling alley with a device to help aim the ball.

 

Athletic wheelchairs were tried out to experience wheelchair basketball.  What are the rules about dribbling and carrying the ball?

 

Then we went upstairs to a classroom where the teacher talked to us about significant people in Virginia history.

 

Everyone listened intently.  Everyone had a chance to participate.  The rocket ship was an outline of important people and times in Virginia history.

 

C., C., D. & J. were in the part about native residents in Virginia and the early settlers.  J. & D. are holding early boats.

 

J., B., D. and K. participated in talking about the Revolutionary War in Virginia and significant Virginians.

  

J. had a revolutionary war soldier. B. had George Washington and D. is holding the Declaration of Independence 

 

This group talked about the Civil War and Reconstruction.  C. has the Emancipation Proclamation. R. got to be Abraham Lincoln.

 

R. as A. Lincoln

 

This group talked more about reconstruction and what happened afterwards.  One person they mentioned was a Maggie _____________ who started a separate bank for freed slaves in Virginia who otherwise could not get a bank loan.

 

The last person they talked about was Arthur Ashe and his experiences as a black athlete breaking the race barrier in tennis.

 

Here are a few view of the incredible climbing structure.  The elevator and stairs run near the structure and cameras are strategically placed so parents can check to see where their kids are in the structure.

 

B.

 

  

  

  

There are tubes to slide down, ladders to climb up and even a zip line.

The zip line cleverly pulls itself back with the help of a weight.

Other exhibits included - heart health and exercise

 

A model of the James River and

 

working models of locks with wooden boats the kids can float on the water.

 

C. and J. Completing electric circuits.

 

D. & J. doing experiments with ping pong balls and forces.

 

Nintendo rock band.

 

A glass room to paint on the walls in.

 

The awesome stairs light up as people step on them (and break the electric light beam). The climbing structure is to the left.

 

The newest member of our homeschool group in the arms of our senior homeschool person.

 

Group photo in the lobby of Amazement Square.  The panels list donors and they are actually on buttons, one letter per button, that can be pushed in to create patterns and shadows.  When done there are handles to the side to pull out and make everything level again.

It was a nice enough day to picnic outside (if you sat in the sunshine - it is January).   

Amazement Square

October 8 we took a field trip to Lynchburg's Amazement Square, a great adventure. They took an old warehouse near the James River and created an innovative and creative museum especially for kids. We were joined by one other family. The historic nature of the area requires them to leave the painted on advertisements on the buildings. One of the signs on their building has something to do with killing bugs, so they have taken upon themselves a pro-bug mascot - as a result there are two bug sculptures outside their building. Here we are in front of one.

J. is standing in front a donor wall. There are three like this one where the buttons stick out. The kids can push them or lean on them. When they are done they pull the handle and they all come out again. One stand alone wall has buttons on the front and back. J. is doing a body impression above.
Here is the after picture. The names of the donors are written one letter on each button.

Here is A. walking up the steps. They light up. You've got to see this!

Electric circuit puzzles. They thought they didn't work. About half had batteries and the others had generators. Once they were connected right they worked just fine. In the same room were giant marble rolls of various types. Golf balls were used instead of marbles and one demonstrated how balls going down a spiral pick up speed. Another went up a hill and then down a hill three times with the hills getting smaller and smaller. There were magnetic walls with paths for the golf balls to follow.

This is a hair dryer with a ping pong ball balanced on it. She is trying to make a basket with it.

This is J. actually balancing a ping pong ball on the air from a hair dryer.

There was a healthy body exhibit. This is me racing A. on bicycles connected to a machine that shows who is winning.

A., my competitor.

The race is on.

Here is B. and D. dong the same race.

The picture doesn't show it very well but the middle of this museum is filled with ladders, slides, tubes, etc. so kids can climb up and down the floors. They can go from the second floor (where you come in) down to the first floor or all the way up to the fourth floor without ever going up stairs.

From the fourth floor the kids (and adults-its a little harder the older the muscles are) can climb a little further to an observation deck (enclosed) and look out on the James River. A railroad runs through the parking lot so it is signed warning cars to not park across the tracks or too close to the tracks. The fountain is in the river.

My favorite exhibit is the James River model. There is actually a model of the river and they can make it rain. It gives them an opportunity to explain the water cycle - though they don't wait for the water to evaporate, they just pump it up to the "clouds".

There are wooden boats for the kids to float down the river and there is a rapids direction and a quieter canal side - with locks. The kids can operate the locks, closing the gates, turning the handles that open the water in or out of the locks, then re-open the locks so the boats can go on their way. Or they can just open the gates anyway and flood the river.

B. on the zip line.

B. on the zip line.

J. on the zip line, or under the zip line. She really did do it, the camera was just not quick enough.

J. in the Paint Box. There is this cool room in the first floor that is mirrored on one side and glass on the other three sides. They put a smock on the kids and make them take their shoes off, then they can paint. And paint she did.

Here is the paint. The rules were don't put the wrong color brush back in the paint, no splattering and do have fun.

One of their latest additions is an XBox Rock Band. We took turns doing the drums or the guitar. It was challenging keeping up with the Xbox.

We did go back to the river exhibit again and play some more. Here is a good view of the "clouds". B. and D. are in the background with J. in front.

J. playing with the lock

J. in front of a writing wall.

The other bug at the museum. All in all, I would recommend this as a fun place to take kids. Amazement Square also has tours for schools and groups on various subjects. There was also a display on the heart, the Monacans, architecture, stained glass and silver with a new exhibit opening soon.