Two Cool Exhibits at the Charles River Museum of Industry

Hello Massachusetts fans, and anyone visiting Massachusetts over the Presidents' Day holiday! Here's one for you!

On our last visit to WALTHAM, Massachusetts, we discovered the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation located at 154 Moody Street, Waltham, MA.  This museum is small, but a lot of fun.  Its permanent exhibits many of which are hands-on,  which showcase  American innovation and invention from 1812 to modern day are cool enough to warrant visiting the museum any time--my sons spent all day there and didn't want to leave!

But two temporary exhibits, which are about to move on, really justify a visit to the museum right now.

The first is called Another Side of In, which is a collaboration between Phish Bassist Mike Gordon, artist Marjorie Minkin (his mom), and electronics designer Jamie Robertson.  It is small exhibit, but one which can keep your kids occupied for a LONG time.  The exhibit is made up of iridescent, translucent molded plastic torso-like shapes, which are decorated with swirls of color, and glowing lights, and which light up and play sound when you move back and forth in front of them.  Some play music, some make weird noises, and all glow luminous colors when triggered.  You can move fast and slow past several of them at the same time and create a veritable symphony (or cacophony, depending on how you look at it).  LOTS of fun--for kids and grown-ups, too!

The other exhibit you really should see is entitled Steampunk Form and Function II. It features FANTASTIC Steampunk creations from renowned Steampunk artists as well as amateurs.  My kids loved the paper shredder monster (which really ate paper) the Eye-Pod, and the mechanical piano.  There were computers attached to typewriter keyboards, coffee pot percolating toasters, a metallic grand piano with an old-fashioned speedometer, and much, much more.  (Gotta love the brass-studded Steampunk dresses too). Don't know what Steampunk is?  The museum describes it as ". . . an alternate history where modern technology and Victorian life meet.  At its core steampunk asks the question, what would the world look like if modern technology were available, when steam was king, corsets were mandatory and man was learning to fly?"  But to really understand it, you should definitely check it out.

But hurry!  Both exhibits close on February 26th.  The museum will have special extended hours and open days for the  February School Vacation, Monday Feb. 20-Sunday Feb. 26, 10am-5pm.

For more information about the museum, check their website at  www.crmi.org  .