In a recent immersive educational experience students from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, explored the fields of historical interpretation at Minute Man National Historical Park. Interpretive rangers and museum staff from Minute Man demonstrated ways that history can be shared and examined by exploring the park’s museum object collections and interpretation programs.
As a part of their academic work, students created research files on Colonial-era artifacts in Minute Man National Historical Park’s museum collections. Through research and thoughtful analysis, the students crafted written descriptive texts that added valuable information to the park’s understanding of our Revolutionary War collections, such as bullet molds and powder horns, as well as 18th-century household items, such as a silver porringer crafted by Paul Revere. During their visit to the park, the students were able to view, handle, and study historical objects in person. This collaborative effort served a dual purpose — not only did it enhance the student’s skills in research, analysis, and communication, but it also provided Minute Man National Historical Park with valuable insights into their collection.
The students were led by Serena Zabin, Professor of History at Carleton College and author of The Boston Massacre: A Family History (2020). Thank you to Prof. Zabin and her students for working with Minute Man National Historical Park to enhance the documentation and scholarship on the park’s collections.
Images above (clockwise from left): Students from Carleton College brave the winter weather to receive training on interpretive programs; student investigating a coin in Minute Man National Historical Park’s museum collection; Jim Hollister, park ranger, providing a historical tour to the students; Nikki Walsh, museum curator, teaching students about proper object handling techniques.
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