A Map Exhibit for Kids of All Ages

Jerry Williams, Paul Russell, Larry Williams, and Chuck Nelson (photo DA)

The Chico Museum's current exhibit, Chico: 39 43' N 121 51' W, was created as a learning experience as well as a museum experience with K-12 students in mind. The exhibit, however, is well worth the time for all ages and can supply interested and geography-challenged adults a quick course in locating California's lakes, rivers, and mountains. The exhibit was put together by Greg Berryman, Communication Design,and Chuck Nelson, Geographical Information Center, with help during installation from brothers Jerry and Paul Williams, Geography and Planning.

The exhibit uses aerial and ground photography to chronicle Chico's growth and includes fifty maps, the oldest dating back to 1860. It is divided into two sections: (1) a look at the historical development of Chico as a community, and (2) an interactive section. The historical section features aerial photographs taken by U-2 jets, copies of original maps (the first one by John Bidwell in 1860), and a display of antique geographical equipment.

Using the 1860 Bidwell map as a reference point, Paul Russell, museum curator, described how Bidwell blocked out the site for the new town of Chico in an area measuring 6x6 city blocks and offered a free parcel of land to anyone desiring to build a house there.

The interactive section includes a globe that enables visitors to feel changing elevations and thematic and political maps, which offer auditory information. One globe has a magic wand that, when pointed to a particular spot, plays things such as a country's national anthem or provides a population statistic. An interactive computer game poses questions about California's climate, economy, and most isolated region.

Jerry Williams, coordinator for the California Geographical Alliance, said the exhibit includes devices used in teacher training development, such as the hands-on experience with globes. Paul Williams expressed his dedication to the finer details in the exhibit by carefully transporting little 4-inch satellites during his trip to Cape Canaveral.

An estimated 600 to 900 children have visited the exhibit. There is still time to see the exhibit, which will be on display through December 20.

DA/CD