The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition -Thursday, September 6, 1990-- Page 11 For the young, old, and young at heart... Hands-On Museum stimulates learning through participation by Ruth Littmann Daily Staff Writer The philosophy of Ann Arbor's Hands-On Museum holds true to the Chinese proverb: "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I un- derstand." As its name suggests, the mu- seum doesn't have Hands-Off! signs. Instead, visitors of all ages are in- vited to let go of tactile inhibition and touch everything - from a giant sand pendulum, to a petrified di-' nosaur femur, to a mammoth pipe xylophone that demonstrates properties of sound waves. Enticing the curious-at-heart to experience principles of science and natural history first-hand, the museum's 160 exhibits heighten people's understanding of abstract concepts that baffled or bored them in school. "People understand things better with a hands-on approach, and they still have a fun time," says Univer- sity alumnus, Tim Kelly, who works as a museum guide. Undulating rhythmically, a mon- ster slinky illustrates the phe- nomenon of standing waves. The "Cartesian Diver," a demonic-look- ing, plastic Smurf, drowns in a Plexiglass cylinder of water to teach guests about Boyle's Law. The same exhibit demonstrates Pascal's Law and Archimede's Principle. Heavy stuff, but it's cleverly dis- guised as recreation. Indeed, at the Hands-On Museum, most visitors say they aren't sure whether they're learning or playing. Before they know it, they're doing both. "It's a totally different type of ed- ucation," said Lucy Bright, an Inkster resident who attended the museum with her three children. The Hands-On Museum doesn't just cater to kids; however, and Uni- versity students shouldn't thumb their noses at the activities it offers. In fact, many University students agree that the museum is a great place to take a date - for hands-on experience that's safely platonic. "It's a great place to take a first date," said Tim Kelly, adding, "Couples don't have to worry about what to talk about. You talk about the exhibits." LSA senior Jon Glaser, a mu- seum employee and veteran of the University's Comedy Company and Just Kidding Comedy Troupe, quipped, "I'd take a date here - if I could ever get a date." But it's no joke, visitors say. The Hands-On Museum appeals to everybody, hands-down -everybody who dares to make learning an ad- venture, that is. Located on the corner of Fifth Street and East Huron in downtown Ann Arbor, the museum building was erected in 1882, initially serving as Ann Arbor's central firehouse. Currently heralded in the National Register of Historic Places for its looming, red-brick tower and vaulted windows, the building's architecture is a rare example of modified Italian Villa Style. With concrete carvings of fire hats, hatchets, and hoses, the nine- teenth-century facade creates an in- triguing juxtaposition to the futuris- tic exhibits inside. A century elapsed before the grandiose structure assumed its cur- rent function. From firehouse to fun house, the metamorphosis of 219 East Huron began in 1978, when a group of Ann Arbor citizens pro- posed that the old station, which had been abandoned the same year, be converted into the privately-run, edu- cational playground it eventually be- came. In 1982, the Hands-On Museum opened its doors to an inquisitive crowd of all ages. It offered 25 inter- active exhibits, barred only to the lethargic. As the museum's popularity in- creased, so did pressure to expand. Since opening day, the museum has added an elevator and gift shop. The number of exhibits has skyrocketed to almost seven times the original count. On the first floor, visitors ma- nipulate mirrors and hot-air balloons to learn about perception, peripheral vision, and levitation. On the second floor, they connect concepts of physics, math, and art, by enclosing themselves in self-made soap bub- bles and elevating a colorful parachute with the heat of two toast- ers. Aspiring zoologists delight themselves in the Discovery Room, where they're voyeurs to a buzzing bee hive. Advancing to the third and fourth floors, guests examine holograms and pulleys. Computers abound, and for logicians with a cultural bent, the Games Room offers a myriad of ethnic mind-teasers, like African Mankala and Ta-Ka-Radi. Back on the first floor, fourth- grader Gary Herbert says over an old- fashioned telephone, "I want to be a doctor someday. The museum helps me learn about doing that." Little Gary Herbert takes the ex- See HANDS-ON, Page 12 RUTH LITTMANN/Dany The Hands-On Museum is a good time for anyone with a little bit of kid left inside of them. Here, two youngsters try to enclose themselves in a soap bubble. No where else in the city can you have so much fun for only two dollars. I .1 0 o o 0 * Paint Guns & Accessories o Ray Ban Sunglasses " Jeans " Jackets " Flags " Boots " Leather. HARR Y'S * Tents & Tarps * Knives " Duffles *Footlockers * Sweaters * Backpacks Jackets YOU iteN " Del * Fresh Meats " Fresh Frulfs & V * Cookies, Cand " Ice Cream an " Freshly made t than~ks to...4 Earket egetables ly, Munchies d Yogurt Deli Sandwiches K ARMY SURPL US ---a / " Military Surplus " Military Insignias " Inflatable Boats & Air Mattresses " Camping Outfitter J xv, " Foam Rubber * Sleeping Bags * Hiking Outfitter R ON-CAMPUS GROCERY STORE located at 609 E. William (just past Steves ice cream) 8 am.7pm MF, 81fl-6 pmSat. NEW LOCATION " Ann Arbor - 500 E. Liberty " 994-3572 _ _OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK -MOST EVENINGS INTERESTED IN THE MIDDLE EAST? WELCOME TO The University of Michigan's CENTER FOR NEAR EASTERN AND NORTH AFRICAN STUDIES Please come in and check out our: Middle East Course List Monday Noon Lectures t~om ' j . , ..,., s V, lir /'' Ileralded as the Lst pizza around Or even square. 1985-Best in Ann Arbor 1986-Best in Ann Arbor 1987-Best in Ann Arbor 1988-Best in Ann Arbor 1989-Best in Ann Arbor 1990-Best in Ann Arbor r 1 40 r c, y1 0 t' 1 . North Campus-927 Maiden Lane Main Campus-546 Packard 995-9101 665-6005 J A 4 4 !"\ "-R M"\-0 -