Wagner Free Institiute of Science

          Yesterday was our first musuem vist. We when to the Wagner Free Institute of Science. The Wagner was very interesting, it was a musuem experience unlike any other i have ever seen before. The difference at the Wagner is that you are seeing the musuem from the perspctive of it's past visitors. The wagner is a very old Museum it has not been upated since the 1890's. Many of the collections were collected by William Wagner, the founder or Joseph Leidy a researcher from the 1800's. The purpose of the Wagner was to offer free education in science for the masses. The Wagner later went to engage in some important reseach projects but today now serves as a great asset to the computer by still offering free classes and workshops for people of all ages.
          I enjoyed visiting the Wagner mostly because it was different. before this course I never knew the Wagner existed but yet that is part of its charm. You can tell that it is a diamond in the rough. I can only imagine what it would have been like to be a visitor to the Wagner when it began in 1855, it must have been unbelivable to see the speicmans and fossils collected. It is a great place to learn about the beginings of scientific exploration and wonder. The Wagner teaches this from a different perspective because so little has been changed. As a visitor you feel the authenticity and history behind the building and collections and that it a exta added bonus in the experience.
        The Wagner relates to the discussing we have been having thus far relating to early museums. The Wagner started as a cabinet of things Mr. Wager had that he collected and continued to grow. We learned in our reading that this is the way many of the first musuems started. One thing seperates the Wagner and makes it unique in that many of the first museums we were reading about were only for the elite but yet the Wagner was of all who wanted to learn and explore and that just makes it that more interesting.
          Overall the Wagner stands up to the purpose it set forth to fufill so many years ago. There is a need for the Wagner and the need is still evident today. The wagner is fufilling it's purpose by continuing to provide education and exploration for all. The Wagner remains free which is also one of its founding characteristics. I would recommend The Wagner for anyone who is interesting in the pioneering spirit of science that was explored by early reseachers and collectors.