[drivingpairs] Museums With Carriages



Just to mention a couple other Museums, Shelbourne
Farm in Shelbourne, Vermont and the Studebaker Museum
in South Bend, Indiana.

We love the Shelbourne Museum collection of carriages
and other horse-drawn vehicles.  The barn setting was
different, improved on my last visit in 2000.  For the
most part quite well lit, so seeing was easier  too. 
The lady attendents were able to explain a number of
things if people asked.  Being able to be so close to
the carriages you can see the details well. 
Especially interesting to me, was the Curricle with
correctly harnessed Pair and to odd spring arrangement
it uses.  People explain, but seeing it set up is the
best learning tool for me.  So very unique, who would
think this vehicle would be the fastest way to travel
at the time.

I have not been to the Studebaker Museum but our local
MHDVA club went and gave it rave reviews.  We couldn't
go that weekend with them.  The carriage building part
is the beginning for Studebaker, they went on to
building cars after.  A lot of the Museum is devoted
to cars, which might interest others traveling with
you, so it is even BETTER for a visit!  I found this
site, but had to look under wagons in their search to
find mention of horse drawn section.  Carriages didn't
come up and I didn't try buggy.  Try Midwestern-speak!

http://www.studebakermuseum.org/museumstore.asp?zoom_highlight=wagon

We made a great effort to visit Stony Brook in 1988. 
It was to be the highlight of our fall vacation.  We
were driving a motor home, so decided to take the
Ferry from Conn. where we had been looking at horses. 
Cool ferry boat ride, easy on and off, no NYC traffic.
 Being rather provincial, we were kind of expecting a
big Tuffy the Tugboat sort of a ferry!  This was HUGE,
a SHIP!  Ferry took Semi trucks and the large
motorhome easily.  Ride across the water was
refreshing, lots to see on the water.

We arrived at Stony Brook.  After that it was kind of
all downhill.  It was a midweek day, no other
visitors.  We tried to get someone to walk with us,
but they told us everything was written and explained
as we would go along.  The lighting was very dim, not
supposed to take any photos.  This is to protect the
original condition, conservation of vehicles.  Was
VERY hard to see for reading or details.  My eyes were
lots better then!  Many of the placards were worn off,
unreadable.  Very hushed atmosphere, like church or
library.  The two kids (6 + 9yrs) were a little noisy
talking, though contained, under control.  Someone
kept coming to check on us, though they couldn't stay
to explain things on vehicles!  We saw the Grace
Darling and a bunch of Brewster things.  Look all you
want, name tag on carriage does not tell you much.  We
were surprised at how quickly we were finished, so few
to see.  Not the great quantity of vehicles as we
expected from prior advertising, people who were
talking about the Museum and depth of collection.

When we had finished the exhibits, we asked where the
rest of carriages were.  Someone explained they only
have about 25% out on display at any time.  Other
vehicles were not available to be seen.  No, they
would not show the ones out in storage.  Quite
inflexible in every way.

We were extremely disappointed after traveling so far,
paying so much to reach the place and ticket money to
visit.  Just a huge letdown on the vehicles.  We
finally decided that it would have been cheaper to
just buy the book of photos of the Collection and look
at them!!

I would hope things have greatly improved at Stony
Brook since that long ago time.  Obviously I know
nothing about running a Museum and constraints of
display space, people working, guides and budgets. 
But we felt very unwelcome, with our hick-type
attitude of expecting any extra services like seeing
MORE carriages, being able to READ the placards.  We
went to learn, didn't think we got the experience we
had expected.

Perhaps Jerry could give us updates or changes on the
improved Stony Brook since my visit.  

Kathy Robertson



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 
_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
http://www.drivingpairs.com/index.php?pg=2
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Other related posts: