Discover Victorian Iowa
October 1 - November 27

For today’s younger generation, gathering in the family room around the television for a favorite show or playing video games with neighborhood kids are common evening and weekend activities. However, Victorian children did not have family rooms or video games, but rather parlors and parlor games.

Families are especially invited to explore the literature, history, and customs of the Victorian era through an interactive setting; a theatrical interpretation of a 1880s Victorian parlor, which has been constructed in the second floor gallery.

Parlor games and tea parties, as well as readings from Victorian children’s books and interactive presentations on Victorian life, customs, and etiquette will be offered on our Family Days in October and November!

The State Historical Society of Iowa is also very excited to present the paintings of Iowa artist Mary Kline-Misol. Mary has been inspired by the lifetime and written works of Lewis Carroll, as is evidenced in her paintings. Over 30 of Mary’s paintings will be on display, and she will be giving several gallery walks talking about the extensive historical research she conducted before painting the Alice series, as well as her research into the life of Lewis Carroll and Victorian history.

Discover Victorian Iowa Family Day

Parlor Pastimes!
October 1, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Visitors will learn how to play Victorian games, hear storytellers, listen to special presentations and have a lesson in chess playing. Chess tables created by Des Moines Public Schools students through a summer workshop with Iowa artists Mary Kline-Misol will be on display in the atrium.

· 9:45 a.m: Lewis Carroll Chess Demonstration – Kids from local chess leagues will compete. Seasoned players will be available to teach the game to visitors, who will be encouraged to spend some time learning and playing in the atrium.

· Victorian Parlor Games and Children’s Literature – Different games from the Victorian period can be played in the parlor area throughout the afternoon. Children will be able to try on a hoop skirt and a vest, and learn to tie a bowtie; play games like chess, checkers, nine pins, pick up sticks, Jacob’s ladder, graces and jacks. Many children’s books popular in the late 19th century will also be available.

· Des Moines Public School District Art Display – Painted chess tables created by Des Moines Public Schools students during a summer workshop with artist Kline-Misol will be on display in the atrium.

· 11:00 a.m.: Mary Bennett and Paul Juhl present Iowa Stereographs: Popular Parlor Pastime – Along with games and reading, Victorian children and adults alike also enjoyed looking at stereographic photographs. Hear the history of these unique images; learn how they were created and experience 100-year-old images of Iowa come-to-life in stereovision! Four different 15-minute presentations on the Grinnell Tornado, the State Capital Building, Clear Lake, Iowa, and The Corn Palace in Sioux City will follow introductory comments.

· 12:30 p.m.: Victorian Yard Games Demonstration – Learn how to play popular Victorian yard games on the Grand Terrace.

· 1:00 p.m.: Maureen Korte presents Alice – Experience popular scenes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass in the parlor! Don’t just listen to the stories, but watch them unfold before you, and participate in the action, too!

· 2:00 p.m.: Gallery Walk with Artist Mary Kline-Misol – Local Iowa Artist Mary Kline-Misol will give a guided gallery walk for families. Learn how she researched the topics of her images, from reading novels to visiting far away places! Gallery walk begins in Classrooms A/B with a short slide lecture, followed by a tour of the gallery with the artist. $5 per person. Reservations suggested but not required. Contact Heather King at 515-281-8754 or heather.king@iowa.gov for more information.

October 15, 2005 Discover Victorian Iowa Activities

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted

· Lewis Carroll Society of North America Fall Meeting – The LCSNA is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering Lewis Carroll studies. Join them for the fall meeting, which is free and open to the public. The group will present a film during the morning and then adjourn for a short lunch. Afternoon activities consist of several talks by national scholars. The featured speaker will be Frankie Morris, author of Artists of Wonderland: The Life, Political Cartoons, and Illustrations of Tenniel. For more information visit the LCSNA at www.lewiscarroll.org.

· Des Moines Public School District Art Display – Painted chess tables created by Des Moines Public School students during a summer workshop with artist Mary Kline-Misol will be on display in the atrium.

· 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.: Nina Givan, Storyteller in the Parlor – Hear and watch popular fairytales and nursery rhymes come to life in the parlor with two special performances by Nina Givan, a local storyteller who will take on the persona of a Victorian Lady to tell these great stories! Performances are free to the public.

· Victorian Parlor Games and Children’s Literature – Different games from the Victorian period can be played in the parlor area throughout the afternoon. Children will be able to try on a hoop skirt, a vest, and learn to tie a bowtie; play games like chess, checkers, nine pins, pick up sticks, Jacob’s ladder, graces and jacks. Also available will be many of the children’s books that were popular in the late 19th century.

Discover Victorian Iowa Family Day

Victorian Customs and Etiquette
November 12, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Family Day activities will center on exploring Victorian Customs and Etiquette.

· Victorian Parlor Games and Children’s Literature – Different games from the Victorian period can be played in the parlor area throughout the afternoon. Children will be able to try on a hoop skirt, a vest, and learn to tie a bowtie; play games like chess, checkers, nine pins, pick up sticks, Jacob’s ladder, and jacks. Also available will be many of the children’s books that were popular in the late 19th century.

· Des Moines Public School District Art Display – Painted chess tables created by DMPS kids through a summer workshop with artist Mary Kline-Misol will be on display in the atrium.

· 10:00 a.m.: Gallery Walk with Artist Mary Kline-Misol – Local Iowa Artist Mary Kline-Misol will be giving a guided gallery walk for families. Learn how Mary researched the topics of her images, from reading novels to visiting far away places! Gallery walk begins in classrooms A/B with a short slide lecture, followed by a tour of the gallery with the artist. $5 per person. Reservations suggested but not required. Please contact Heather King at 515-281-8754 or heather.king@iowa.gov for more information.

· 11:00 a.m.: Bonnie and Donna from Historic Montauk present Victorian Etiquette and Customs – Learn about Victorian life from two Victorian-costumed women! Proper salutations, behaviors, and popular pastimes and customs will be explored during this interactive presentation.

· Noon: Nina Givan, Storyteller in the Parlor – Hear and watch popular fairytales and nursery rhymes come to life in the parlor with a special performance by Nina Givan, a local storyteller who will take on the persona of a Victorian Lady to tell these great stories! Performance is free to the public.

· 1:00 p.m.: Hats, Hats, Hats! – Create your very own Victorian hat and make sure to wear it to the tea party! Workshop is limited to 30 kids and will cost $5 per person. Local artist Mary Zirkelbach will be hosting the program. Contact Heather King at 515-281-8754 or heather.king@iowa.gov for more information.

· 1:30 p.m.: Special Vault Tour “Victorian Life” – This one and one-half hour-long, behind-the-scenes walking tour explores the museum’s “vault,” and underground, climate-controlled storage facility that is home to more than 100,000 artifacts in the State Historical Society collection. This special tour will focus primarily on the furniture, finery, pottery and china of the Victorian age. These tours are limited to groups of 20; reservations are strongly encouraged. Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for children ages 7-12. State Historical Society members receive a 10 percent discount. Reservations can be made by calling the Iowa Museum Store at (515) 283-1757.

· 2:00 p.m.: Tea Time – “Imagine yourself in Alice’s adventure during an interactive theatrical reenactment of the Mad Hatter Tea!”

Victorian Lady’s Tea Party

November 19, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Get dressed up and don’t miss tea time! Join us for a special tea for mothers, daughters, and grandmothers hosted by tea expert Dr. Patricia Tice. Guests are invited to bring their own teacups, and wear their best hats and gloves!

Dr. Tice will present the tea party from the Victorian parlor, where she will teach proper etiquette for taking your tea, as well as present a short history of tea and discuss the importance of tea time as a custom during the Victorian period. Cost is $20 per person, by reservation only. Limited seating is filling up fast! Make sure to reserve your seats by calling Heather King at 515-281-8754.

The tea party is sponsored in part by Tulip Tea Room in Pella, Iowa.