Hands-On History offers children and their companions the opportunity to create crafts inspired by artifacts in the NHA’s collections, whether it be something large like a lighthouse or small and delicate like scrimshaw. Each craft is designed to encourage participants to visit the Whaling Museum and explore the historical significance of the artifacts and souvenirs that Nantucketers carried home from their journeys aboard whaleships.
“Hands-on History inspires children to look more closely at the museum’s collections and to engage with the artifacts,” says Claire White, NHA Education & Outreach Coordinator. “Of most importance, the activities are designed to be fun, offering youth the opportunity to imagine life in another time and create historical memories of their own.”
Each day of the week is devoted to a different craft and experience. Mondays the subjects are lighthouses and signal flags; Tuesdays are for scrimshaw; on Wednesdays whaling logs and mobiles will be explored; Thursdays dancing masks and tea cups are the topics; on Fridays, families will look at arrowheads and whirligigs; on Saturdays sailors valentines and coral necklaces will be made; and on Sundays children will learn about whaleboats and whale stamps.
Hands-On History programs are free for NHA members or with museum admission. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For information about the NHA, please visit www.nha.org or call (508) 228-1894.
