Mixture of Innovative and Traditonal The Field is one of those venerable institutions that every American should visit. Some of its older exhibits are very traditional natural science-style displays with stuff lined up in cases and short ID labels, like the gemostones, or well crafted but outdated dioramas, like some of the animal dioramas. However, some of the newer permanent exhibitions completed in the last fifteen years are wonderful experiential spaces that combine interactivity, clever design and good writing with some of the best real artifacts and specimens from their collections. Sometimes it's tough for such a large research-based institution to remember that their primary audiences are the general public, who are come to be entertained first, and educated second. The Field has done an admirable job moving in this direction, without losing their strong scientific and cultural content base. |