I spent the day with my mother, my kids and my nephew at the Mashantucket Museum and Research Center way up in Connecticut by the Foxwoods Casino. It is without a doubt the best Native American museum I've ever seen and one of the best cultural research centers I've ever been in. Fun for the kids too. The mannequins are so life-like they're spooky. I've never seen anything like that.
But not only does the staff have their museum act together, they also know their homeland security measures. So - if you ever visit the museum with a stroller, be sure not to leave it unattended at the top of the escalator, like I did, while you go to the lower levels with the kids, like I did. You may have to send your travelling companion to hunt for it (because your digital camera is in it) only to have her find it in the middle of an empty exhibit hall with a security guard standing watch. Apparently the deserted stroller, with the bag in the seat, triggered a whole code something-or-other and the hall had to be cleared. Very embarassing mistake for us, impressively successful drill for the museum staff.
Too bad you didn't have the president there to enlighten the kids on our country's tribal sovereignty policies with the Indians.
Posted by: Dimmy Karras | August 13, 2004 at 01:49 PM
Appreciate posts like these. Will put it on our list when we visit Connecticut.
Posted by: shari | August 13, 2004 at 03:00 PM
I last visited that museum way before 9-11, and my socks were knocked off then, so I can only imagine how they've added to it since I was last there. I agree, it's a terrific place.
Posted by: Elayne Riggs | August 13, 2004 at 05:19 PM