Did you know that when it was released in 1982, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial surpassed Star Wars to become the highest-grossing film of all time? It held onto that record for eleven years! This action figure perfectly captures the adorable spirit of the alien which won the hearts and minds of Hollywood and the public… Continue reading
Featuring the Lions of Judah, this menorah was cast from three pieces of brass. During the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah, the nine branches of the menorah are lit during this festival of lights. The Lion of Judah is a familiar symbol in Judaism, and came to signify the blessing, majesty, and protection of the Jews,… Continue reading
The kangaroo is a marsupial native to Australia. All marsupials are diprotodonts, meaning they have two front teeth, or incisors. But kangaroos are unusual because they have three pairs of incisors in their upper jaw and one pair in their lower jaw. Another unique characteristic of kangaroo skulls is that they are relatively long and… Continue reading
Did you know that early Wonder Woman comics included a feature called “Wonder Women of History?” In each issue with this feature, Wonder Woman stepped aside to give voice to the real life stories of exceptional and often silenced women of history. The feature ran for 54 issues and covered fifty different women in science,… Continue reading
Cathedral style radio receivers began to appear in the 1930s as a much smaller and compact radio design compared to the console and large “coffin” style radios of the 1920s. Steinite Radio Co. produced this four-tube, AM radio about 1930. It features a superheterodyne circuit, a novel invention that made it possible to boost weak… Continue reading
Although not even two inches tall, this embossed gold foil plaque is intricately detailed to show a standing male figure wearing a crown. The plaque dates to the Achaemenid Empire, or the First Persian Empire, in Western Asia. This was an ancient Iranian empire with Babylon as its capital. Although we are not sure who… Continue reading
In the late 1890s, Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company started selling this standard series wall model telephone. It features a mouthpiece, separate ear receiver, hookswitch, hand crank, and bells. A high quality instrument at the time, it was easily integrated into the home with its stylish oak cabinet. Over the past 100 years technology has… Continue reading
Petrified wood is a fossil that is formed when the original internal plant material is replaced by minerals. The minerals crystallize within the cellular structure of the log or tree over centuries. Some specimens of petrified wood have been so accurately preserved to still resemble wood that people do not realize they are fossils until… Continue reading
Wayang Kulit is a type of play performed in Indonesia using shadow puppets. The art form began as early as the 9th century, and feature intricate rod puppets like this one made from softwood and painted animal hide. The plays are not just a form of entertainment, but also serve as an important medium of… Continue reading
This shell comes from a species of large sea snail, the green abalone. The outer brown shell layer has been removed to reveal the beautiful mother-of-pearl underneath. Did you know that the green abalone can live up to 30 years or more? They live in shallow water under rocks, in rock crevices, and other hidden… Continue reading
