The Taste was a Big Helping of Fun

How awesome was the Taste of Montgomery County? Words cannot describe, but I'll do my best anyway! There was so much to take in that day, I'll just hit a few highlights. Of the twenty booths, I was only able to taste a few things, but one of my favorites was the couscous with lamb from The Juniper Spoon. When it came to dessert, it was hard to decide, but I think I agree wtih the judges that the winner for best taste was the turtle cheesecake from Awesome Edibles caterers. Mmmm!

The music was great, too, and all the bands put on a good show. One I enjoyed the most was the Tad Robinson Band. I didn't know I liked blues music until I heard them! It was definitely a crowd-pleasing event, and I also had a great time running into lots of folks I hadn't seen in awhile. I heard there were over 2,000 people there, and I believe it. The only downside was that some of the vendors ran out of food that I had been hoping to try, like the fried cheesecake I saw on the menu card. Oh well, hopefully that will be back next year. I know I will.

Lew is Launching into School!

Even though Lew Wallace hated school as a child, he's getting ready to launch back into the classroom - but this time as the teacher. The Lew Wallace Discovery Kit has been finished by intern Rachael Matthews and is reserved for a visit at St. Bernard's School in just over a week. We're wrapping up the final inventory and packing the kit...making sure all the parts are in place for the students. This Discovery Kit is the second in the series, but like the first Wallace Women Discovery Kit, this one has touchable artifacts from our Education Collection, games, and a binder full of activities and lessons for the teacher to incorporate into curriculum. This kit is fit for a variety of ages, and the maiden voyage is to become a station in a kindergarten class. There's so much great stuff in here, I couldn't resist trying some of it on!

Summer Fun

Summer at the Study has been a wonderous treat for the nature lovers.

The gardens are in full glory and the wildlife has found a bountiful feast.

Lantana, verbena, butterfly bushes and coneflowers are visited by goldfinches, hummingbirds and numerous varieties of butterflies.

The yellow swallowtail butterfly is the most prevelant variety. Flitting from flower to flower, they dance a graceful ballet for the watchful visitor.

Goldfinches fly from garden to garden, eating the coneflower seeds. The soft, high pitched song they sing is a musical treat for any and all who visit.

Hummingbird have found the garden this year. Butterfly bushes, geraniums and the morning glories have all been visited by the 'hummers.' They make a slight squeaking sound as they drink the nectar of the flowers.

Fall is fast approaching and the mums are starting to bloom. Soon the 'hummers' will be headed south and the seed of the coneflowes will be all eaten.

Gearing up for the Taste at Wabash Community Day

Marketing Coordinator Kara Edie and I went to the Wabash College Community Day to spread some of our excitement about the upcoming Taste of Montgomery County! With the countdown well underway - only 4 days left - our goal was to make sure every Wabash student knew what was going on Saturday, September 6. Not only did we pass out every last Taste button that we had, but we also got a few responses like, "oh yeah, I went last year and it was awesome!" and "we already have our tickets!" I thought it was a great show of community.

Hope to see you there!

Summer Intern Shares Experiences

I came to the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in the hopes of learning more about the business side of nonprofits and how I could go about making a career of marketing in the nonprofit sector. Amanda Wesselmann, the Associate Director, took my desire into account by helping me develop a summer project that would both help me learn more about marketing and help the Museum achieve its publicity goals. Essentially, I had three major jobs: educate the public by giving tours of the Museum, assist Kara Edie, the Marketing Coordinator, in publicizing events, and assist Amanda in the execution of those events.

I completed this project by creating numerous press releases, brochures, and flyers for the Museum to help draw attention to events like the Taste of Montgomery County. I also helped in the execution of events like Discovery Saturday, the Civil War Encampment, and the Lew Wallace Youth Academy. Helping to publicize and execute these events was an eye-opening experience for me for several reasons. First, they showed me the large amount of creativity that nonprofits must use to get public support for their events. Due to budget restraints, Kara and I were constantly brain-storming about effective, cheap ways to get more people to attend our events. Second, I was able to learn the real “meat and potatoes” of marketing. I learned about contact lists, press release layouts, and graphic design layouts through the great “on the job training” that the Museum provided. Finally, I have become very adept at “reading people” and figuring out what they want from an experience. While giving tours, I quickly realized that no two groups are exactly alike. That is, while one person may expect me to tell a story about each object in the collection the next person may prefer to simply sit and take it all in. I feel like acting as a tour guide for the Museum has taught me to read people’s reactions to my words effectively and tailor my behavior accordingly. I am sure that all three of these lessons will serve me well as I continue in my marketing career.

Alex Thompson, Wabash College '08, Public Programs Intern Summer 2008

Discovery Saturday features games, experiments

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN, July 19, 2008— Deb King, Grounds Manager of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, is eager to fish from General Wallace’s moat, an activity that Wallace himself greatly enjoyed from 1898-1903.

“General Wallace had a ‘moat’ dug around half of his Study during its construction, and he stocked it with fish,” King said. “He taught his grandsons how to fish from the moat, and it’ll be interesting to watch kids fish from it once again.”

This time, however, children who will have the opportunity to fish from the General’s moat will do so without water, as the fish are made of cardboard and will attach to the kids’ cane poles with magnets. This is one of the many activities planned for Discovery Saturday, a special event held in conjunction with the Lew Wallace—Gentleman Scientist exhibit on Saturday, August 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Other fun things being planned for Discovery Saturday include making “nature impressions” on sun-sensitive paper, exploring the grounds with the Museum’s new Nature Study Backpacks, going on an innovation scavenger hunt, and taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum, including the Study’s basement, a place that is usually closed off to visitors.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to create a rudimentary fish ladder, similar to the one Wallace erected at Water Babble, his summer home on the outskirts of Crawfordsville. “What’s a fish ladder?” King teased. “You’ll have to come and see.”

All ages are welcome to this special event and admission is free. For further information, contact the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum at 765-362-5769 or email info@ben-hur.com.

Re-enactors to bring Civil War to life at General Lew Wallace Study

Presentations represent daily life of Union soldiers under Wallace’s command

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN, June 21, 2008— The scent of campfires and the sounds of Stephen Foster songs will fill the air once again at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum for its annual Civil War encampment weekend, July 12 and 13. This year, however, visitors will get a rare chance to dig deeper into the experience of life as one of General Wallace’s rank-and-file soldiers.

The Museum has partnered with Mid States Living History Association, Inc. out of Indianapolis to present several activities on the Museum grounds over the course of the weekend that give a greater insight into life as a soldier during this tumultuous time in American history. In addition to live demonstrations of camp cooking, construction, medical care, music, telegraphy and artillery training, visitors may get the chance to interact with General Wallace himself, listening in as he reflects on the controversial battle of Shiloh and his innovative defense of Cincinnati.

“This year, we’re offering visitors an even more immersive experience,” said Associate Director Amanda Wesselmann. “I think our guests will enjoy the diversity of activities, and hopefully, come to appreciate what General Wallace and his soldiers had to endure during the Civil War.”

The live activities include “School of the Piece,” an instructional training exercise for cannoneers that demonstrates the degree of textbook and practical training required to function on the field of battle. Visitors will also be invited to participate in infantry training drills using toy “Woodfield” (wooden) rifles. Demonstrations in Civil War-era medical care, camp construction and cooking, and using a working telegraph will also be held throughout the weekend.
Visitors are invited to experience the live drama of the Civil War on Saturday, July 12 from 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawfordsville. For further information, contact the Museum at 765-362-5769 or email info@ben-hur.com.