Tag: Cambridge

Harvard Semitic Museum, Cambridge

Sandwich board sign outside the Harvard Semitic Museum showing an Egyptian sculpture and advertising Free Admission and open hours Sunday-Friday 11am-4pm. My son leans against the sign with a smile on his face.
Welcome Sign at the Semitic Museum. Source: BBHS

A few days ago, we spent some time visiting collections at Harvard University, including The Semitic Museum which is tucked behind the Museum of Natural History at 6 Divinity Avenue. Admission is free and open to the public.

When I first heard about this museum I wasn’t sure what it was about, maybe you’re scratching your head too. Here’s a lovely text from the museum to explain:

An informational text from the Harvard Semitic Museum which is titled "A Museum for All People." Text reads "David Gordon Lyon envisioned an institution that highlighted the tremendous cultural contributions of the Semitic peoples of the Ancient Near East: Israelites, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Arameans, Babylonians, Arabs, and many others. For students in Lyon's time, the achievements of ancient Greece and Rome were common knowledge. But long before those great civilizations arose, the kingdoms of the 'Fertile Crescent' had already developed fundamental concepts that would shape all of Western civilization. Three great religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - emerged from the Semitic world, as did the modern alphabet and elements of complex mathematics."
Text from the Semitic Museum. Source: BBHS

My favorite object on display here is a painted, plaster cast of the Stele of Hammurabi that is in the Louvre! Our first time to the museum, we were totally surprised to see it. We had come to see Egyptian artifacts and I had no idea Greater Boston had a life size replica that we could visit. I remember learning about the Code of Hammurabi as a kid. We covered it in our ancient history homeschool curriculum. The pictures didn’t prepare us for how massive it is in person. We were also surprised to see the text covers the entire surface, front to back, and that it’s roughly cylindrical. The long story short is that seeing an object in person is powerful!

Laws of Hammurabi. Source: BBHS

The Semitic Museum is very small, and is nestled among academic offices on three floors. You can visit objects that are at least 5 thousand years old, see Egyptian sarcophagi, cuneiform tablets, pottery and more. And, you can see everything in under an hour.

On our visit this week, the first floor gallery with a life-size reproduction of an Israelite home was closed. I can’t say if it’s a long-term closure for renovations or temporary for minor repairs. Call before you go if that’s what you want to see most! The third floor has a newer exhibit on reproductions of ancient Mesopotamian palace carvings, which I personally think is really great! We can’t all have original objects available to see in person all around the world. Well made reproductions give people a wonderful opportunity to have first hand experience with important art and artifacts.

“From Stone to Silicone” exhibit at Harvard Semitic Museum. Source: BBHS

There are two really cool technological features available from the museum. One is an augmented reality app you can use with the reproduction of the Dream Stela on the second floor. You can either borrow a tablet from the information desk downstairs or download an app to your own device. Click here for more on experiencing the Sphinx and Dream Stela in augmented reality.

The second are digital models of artifacts that you can download and recreate on a 3D printer. The cuneiform tablet image above is actually a 3D printed model. When you visit the digital models page, click on the little blue box on each model image to go to sketchfab.com where the downloads are available.

Have you been surprised to find an important artifact in one of Greater Boston’s museums? Tell us about it in the comments!

Kendall Square Ice Show moved to 12/21 due to ice melt

Because today was so warm, the rink postponed their ice show to Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 2 pm.

Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard U.

  • Water Lens in the Science Center
  • Commodore 64 station once used in Harvard’s Cyclotron
  • A 1st floor display
Source: BBHS

Yesterday we visited the Harvard Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments located in Harvard’s Science Center at 1 Oxford Street in Cambridge. Admission to the collection is free and open to the public.

This is a lovely, small, but high-interest collection with lots of objects from Harvard’s long history of scientific research and study. The collection spans 400 years and includes “telescopes, microscopes, sextants, medical tools, and computational instruments.” You could easily connect your history or science studies to objects on view here. Before you go, you could search their collection online using their Waywiser database to see what’s on view that you’d like to see.

The main entrance to Harvard’s Science Center. In the summer, there’s a mist fountain among the boulders, which are a fun obstacle course for kids year-round. Source: BBHS

While you’re visiting the Science Center, you can see some wonderful examples of Mid-Century arts and some fun science objects on display in the hallways. There’s also a Clover cafe on the first floor where you could stop for a snack or coffee. You can also bring your own food and eat in the cafe seating.

Source: BBHS

Have you visited the CHSI? Do you have any favorite scientific instruments that are on display? Would love to hear your comments below!

Winter Socializing on the Cheap

This BBHS family lives in a tiny apartment. It’s so small, we barely have enough room for all 4 of us to sit and watch TV. If we have one more person over for dinner, we have to move the couch and bring the table out of the kitchen. If you come into our apartment, I would say, “welcome, let me give you a tour, here’s all of it!”

Having playdate, or teaching a class together over here isn’t comfortable or practical. In warm months we can meet people anywhere outside, but when it turns cold we have to be creative about where to spend time with friends. This post is dedicated to BBHSers with similar challenges to having friends visit.

Places that are Free

A Library is a great place to meet up; it’s free, children’s rooms often have board games kids can play together, or other activities such as crafts, movies and more. The downside is that there aren’t many opportunities for gross motor activities if the kids are bigger than toddlers. I always appreciate libraries where the kids’ room is separate from the rest of the library. The Main branches of the Arlington, Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and Watertown libraries all have very nice, seperate kids’ rooms. In Cambridge and Somerville, there are playgrounds right outside as well.

The entrance to the Children's Library at the Copley branch of the Boston Public Library.
The BPL’s Children’s Library at the Main branch. Source: BBHS

There is a winter games day meetup at the Arlington Fox Library organized on the Homeschoolting Together Boston group. This is something you might consider starting up at a library nearer to you! This location is convenient to the 77, 79 and 350 MBTA busses.

Hiking/Going for a walk is also a good, cheap activity that’s better with friends. In winter you just have to have good enough outerwear and know where the nearest bathrooms are. If you need some inspiration or ideas on city locations for hiking, check out Outdoors Rx! When you register and sign up for their newsletter you can join their organized activities in and around Boston for free. If you just want information on where to spend time outdoors in nature in the city, check out their brochures on Boston (Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan), Chealsea/Revere, Framingham, and Waltham.

Almost Free/Cheap

Go with your friends to a museum’s free/cheap day! Or take advantage of library free admission museum passes. Most of the bigger museums in the area have days and times with free admission or admission by voluntary donation (which can be zero dollars, too). Visit the website of a museum you’re interested in to find out if they offer free admission days/times.

The Museum of Science is a decent place for indoor, gross motor opportunities. You can easily get a free admission pass from various libraries. There’s the Science Playground on the top floor (although they got rid of the running feature) and the Charles River Exhibit on the lowest level for some wonderful sensory play. If it isn’t busy, it’s not much of a problem for the kiddos to run a little bit. I’m not advocating full on running, just noting that it’s an indoor space where it’s more acceptable for the kids to get out some big movements. Also, there’s a lot to see without needing a ticket, such as the little zoo and hands on lab (check schedule for topics and hours) both downstairs from the Discovery Center, the ball machine and the solar system exhibit outside the Omni Theater.

If you have favorite go-to places for meeting up with friends in winter, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!