by Willy Franzen on February 28, 2010
In 1964 New York City hosted the World’s Fair for the third time. The fair was held in Queens at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and it was dedicated to “Man’s Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe.” More than 50 million people visited the fair to see all kinds of cool exhibits—many focused on technology (you can read more about the fair on Wikipedia. One of these exhibits was the New York Hall of Science, which continues to operate to this day as New York City’s “only hands-on science and technology center.” It has been remodeled and revamped multiple times since 1964, and wide range of science focused educational programs. It looks like a really cool place to visit, even if most of their activities seem to be targeted towards kids.
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by Willy Franzen on February 20, 2010
For most of us museums are just places to go to visit for a day and to learn something new. We rarely think about what is going on behind the scenes, but we should. At many major museums there is also a significant research function. A perfect examples is the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA, which sounds like a research institution, but it also runs a museum. In fact, The Academy is the “oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World” according to Wikipedia. The Academy has been at the forefront of biological and earth sciences since its inception, and it continues to promote public education in those areas. Just to give you an idea of the scale on which they operate, their collections include more than 17 million specimens. That’s crazy!
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by Willy Franzen on December 19, 2009
I think that I take pretty decent photographs. I even won a fishing photography contest once—ok my friend submitted the picture that I took with his camera and took the prize for himself. My expertise may end with a point and shoot camera, but I’m ok with that. If I ever want to advance my skills, I’ll be sure to check out the International Center of Photography. They are a New York City based non-profit that runs “a world-class museum and school dedicated to exploring the possibilities of the photographic medium through dynamic exhibitions and educational programs.” They were founded in 1974 by photographer Cornell Capa, and since then they’ve been moving forward the art (and science) of photography.
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by Willy Franzen on November 8, 2009
Although I’ve never been there, I hear that the Mall of America is great. It’s an impressive spectacle of consumerism, and it’s a must-see if you’re in the Twin Cities area. However, I’d imagine that it’s not the most educational place to take your kids. Luckily, Minnesotans have the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul. It was named by Cookie Magazine as one of “sixteen road trip-worthy museums that put the emphasis on children.” The Museum is loaded with cool exhibits like Earth World, which focuses on local habitats, and Habitot, which creates exploration opportunities for toddlers. They also play host to exciting traveling exhibits like Dinosaurs, which will be arriving in 42 days (they have a countdown on their homepage).
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by Willy Franzen on August 9, 2009
For nearly as long as humans have been around, we’ve been building shelters—places to sleep, eat, work, and play. And nearly as long as we’ve been building shelters, we’ve been doing it artistically. Function is still our primary goal—it’s the reason that we build things, but it’s amazing how development, architecture, construction and engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban planning come together as an essential part of human culture. The National Building Museum in Washington, DC was started to “advance the quality of the built environment by educating the public about its impact on people’s lives.” Yes, it’s a museum filled with artifacts and objects related to the history of buildings, but it’s more than that. It’s really about “fostering lively discussion about a wide range of topics.”
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by Willy Franzen on July 3, 2009
Since I’m going to have a non-profit for you tomorrow, let’s start celebrating the Fourth of July today. Now, I know that you probably have fireworks, the beach, hot dogs, and hamburgers on your mind, but let’s take a minute to appreciate the Declaration of Independence. It’s the best “I Quit” letter in the history of the world. It’s like that letter that you wrote to your parents when you were 14 and decided that you were moving out, except it isn’t completely nonsensical. The Declaration of Independence has a lot to do with why this country is so great, so I hope that you’ll take a minute to give it a read today. And where do you go if you want to read the Declaration of Independence? The National Archives, of course! You can see the original document in all its glory, or you can check out a more readable version. If you’re not familiar with what the National Archives is, basically they “are the nation’s record keeper.” They preserve and keep forever 1%-3% of our government’s documents for both legal and historical reasons.
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by Willy Franzen on April 11, 2009
When I was a little kid, I was fascinated by science. Some of my favorite things to do were to wake up early on Saturday mornings to watch Mr. Wizard’s World, ask my Dad show me Chemistry experiments, and build all kinds of paper airplanes. I was just the kind of kid that would love the Museum of Science, Boston, and I’d still love to spend a day there if I ever get the chance. Their mission is to “stimulate interest in and further understanding of science and technology and their importance for individuals and for society,” and judging from their Flickr gallery, they’re definitely doing that. Some of their attractions include an IMAX theater, a Planetarium, a Laser show, a 3-D Digital Cinema, and an awesome looking Simulator that can take you under the sea or to outer space. That’s not even getting into the Museum of Science’s current exhibits. Boston’s Museum of Science looks like an insanely cool place to visit, and an even cooler place to work.
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by Willy Franzen on November 22, 2008
I’m in the lucky position of having a girlfriend who has an 8 year old sister. That means that I have a built in excuse to continue to do “kid things,” even though I’m way too old to do them on my own without seeming creepy. Mini golf and bowling are certainly staples, although it’s not too weird for 20-somethings to do those (bowling with bumpers is another story), but one of my favorites is going to children’s museums. Not only do they provide a lot of fun, but they also always seem to teach me something. It’s amazing to see complex concepts explained with simple exhibits and toys. I also particularly enjoyed the “screaming booth” at one museum because I was able to max out the decibel meter. Now, the Boston Children’s Museum may or may not have a screaming booth, I don’t know, but they do have some exciting jobs for new college grads. That means that you can have a built in excuse to continue to do “kid things” just like I do.
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by Amy Gordon on August 23, 2008
Four summers ago I had the pleasure of interning for Jill Weinberg, Midwest Region Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, or USHMM for short. Admittedly, my job consisted of a lot of clerical work. I became remarkably familiar with Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, and the paper cuts that you get on your tongue from licking envelopes over and over again; however, I also gained unforgettable knowledge and experience relating to crimes against humanity and genocide, both historical and current. The internship opened my eyes to world events, introduced me to compassionate and intelligent people, and gave me an excellent taste of what it is like to work for a non-profit, charitable company.
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by Willy Franzen on August 17, 2008
I am the black sheep of my family. My mom is a graphic designer, my dad is an architect, and my sister is a painter (although she doesn’t want to be labeled). I have no artistic talent whatsoever, and I barely have the ability to appreciate good art. That means that I’m probably not the best person to tell you about the The Museum of Modern Art, but they do have some great entry-level job opportunities, so I’m going to tell you about them anyway.
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by Willy Franzen on April 13, 2008
When did it become cool for companies to use the term “rock star” in reference to high potential recruits? It seems like everyone these days is looking for a rock star this, or a rock star that. At first, it was cool that employers compared top talent to those who have reached the ultimate level of fame; however, the term has lost it’s edge now that its use has become so widespread. In any case, if you think that you’re a rock star, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a place where you should fit right in.
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by Willy Franzen on March 1, 2008
Founded in 1869 with the help of Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. (Teddy’s father), the American Museum of Natural History was the first of its kind in New York City. A museum devoted entirely to the wonders of the world, it now houses amazing collections on minerals and gems, fossils, mammals, a variety of anthropological exhibits, a planetarium and much more. A few notable items that are currently housed in the museum include a life-sized model of a blue whale, the “Star of India” – the world’s largest blue sapphire, and a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. The museum should definitely be on your list to visit if you’re ever in NYC, and it’s also a great place to consider for employment. If you love the natural world but can’t resist the pull of a big city, what better place to start your career than a natural history museum?
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by Willy Franzen on November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving! A lot of blogs are taking the day off today, but we thought we’d stay true to our name. Thanksgiving is another day, so we have another job.
Do you wish you could go back to the First Thanksgiving at Plymouth Plantation or The Virginia Colony? Do you long for the days before electricity? When Thanksgiving turkey came from the wild? When your livelihood actually depended on the success of the Fall harvest?
After you graduate, why not go back in time? Both Plimoth Plantation (yes, that’s how they spell it) and Colonial Williamsburg have job opportunities in their living history museums. If you love history, why not recreate it to help others learn? You can live like our forefathers did at the First Thanksgiving and get paid for it. Plimoth Plantation is currently hiring an Apprentice in 17th-Century Carpentry, while Colonial Williamsburg is hiring and auditioning for a number of positions. Both of these living museums have other job options, but why would you want to do anything other than be a colonial?
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by Willy Franzen on November 18, 2007
Have you visited your college’s art museum lately? Gone to a student theatre production? Explored the library and looked at an exhibit on rare books? These are opportunities that you might be taking for granted, but many families have limited access to the cultural institutions that are commonplace on many college campuses.
Cool Culture is making New York City’s cultural institutions more accessible to low-income families. A solid education must extend beyond what kids learn in school, but visiting museums, wildlife centers, zoos, and botanical gardens can be both cost prohibitive and intimidating for a family with limited means. By building partnerships with many of these institutions, Cool Culture is able to offer a Family Pass that grants low-income families access to 71 cultural institutions in New York City. Member families are also provided with “a quarterly publication that provides a borough-by-borough listing of cultural attractions, including practical information on hours and public transportation, as well as a calendar of events especially geared toward families and young children.”
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is the funniest, most in-your-face career guide on the market.