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The Montshire Museum of Science is an interactive science center in Norwich, Vermont, with more than 150 hands-on exhibits relating to the natural and physical sciences, ecology, and technology. Outdoors, visitors can explore nature trails and exhibits on wind, water, and sound in David Goudy Science Park. Visiting exhibitions, educational programs, and special events are offered throughout the year.
NORWICH, VT – Have you ever wanted to break open your Etch A Sketch® to find out how it operates or follow the marbles of Hungry Hungry Hippos® after they were gobbled up? If so, you’ll love Toys: The Inside Story—this summer’s featured exhibition at the Montshire Museum of Science which invites visitors to explore the inner workings of these, and many other classic and iconic toys.
Toys: The Inside Story is a whimsical, hands-on exhibition where museum visitors will learn about the fundamentals of engineering, innovative problem-solving, and the iterative process of creating a functioning machine that can stand up to years of play.
Toys: The Inside Story includes twelve interactive stations that illustrate the simple mechanisms commonly found in toys. Visitors can create their own playful contraptions of gears, pulleys, linkages, cams, and circuits—the same mechanics that operate drawbridges, cars, cranes, and so much else in our engineered world.
Mechanical literacy, or understanding the way things work, is an important stepping stone to fostering lasting interest in careers in engineering and technology. Driving that point home, this exhibition also includes a photographic display that showcases a variety of modern STEM careers that require mastery of mechanical skills, from rigging a ship using pulleys to fitting an amputee with a customized prosthetic.
Toys: The Inside Story was developed by the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, VT., with funding from the National Science Foundation as part of the TEAMS (Traveling Exhibits at Museums of Science) Collaborative. Before its homecoming, this exhibition toured the United States and reached an estimated 1.6 million visitors at science museums throughout the country.
This summer’s featured exhibition is generously sponsored by Dartmouth Health Children’s, GEOKON, Mascoma Bank, Chroma Technology Corporation, Adimab LLC, and FUJIFILM Dimatix.