The American Museum of Radio and Electricity
by Neighborhood-Kids.com4/4/2008 1:46:59 PM
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Kids are naturally curious. Just about everything they experience is new and exciting. And once they reach the age of two, they become expert inquisitors, capable of asking “why” until you’re blue in the face and can only manage a strained, “Just because!” in order to bring the madness to an end.
AMRE visitors learn about static electricity in this interactive exhibit.
If you’re looking to encourage your child’s natural appetite for knowledge, and find people who will actually be able to answer some of their questions, head over to the American Museum of Radio and Electricity. Located on Bay Street in downtown Bellingham, the museum is a depository of antique radios and other electronics, as well as information about the use of electricity throughout history. At the AMRE, kids can learn how electricity makes things work.
The museum was officially established as a government recognized nonprofit in 1989. At the time, it was called the Bellingham Antique Radio Museum and most of the collection came from president and curator, Jonathan Winter. In 2001, another vintage radio enthusiast, John Jenkins, became vice president and co-curator, expanding the collection and helping to move the museum to its current location. The name of the museum was also changed to the American Museum of Radio and Electricity to reflect important relationship between radios and the power behind them.
One of the interesting components of this museum is that visitors can touch just about everything. “Very few items at the museum are behind glass,” explained Dave Swanson, who works with the AMRE's educational program. “We want people to have a tactile experience with these objects. And almost everything here works. The radio was designed to play music, so we encourage people to ask to turn things on. Our visitors who were growing up during the Golden Age of Radio [1928-1950] get really excited to find the radio that they had when they were a kid and hear music coming out of it.”
Explore at your leisure or arrange a group tour.
That sense of nostalgia is captured through the AMRE’s own radio station, KMRE-LP 102.3 FM, which features classic radio programs, music, and live broadcasts. They even feature a program for kids on Saturday mornings. The radio station had its third anniversary of broadcasting this April, and the AMRE staff and supporters celebrated with a benefit party. Funds raised will help build a live broadcast studio at the museum.
While the museum helps the older generation relive their youth, it's also a great place for kids today to get a sense of wonder about radio and technology. The AMRE offers a weekly afternoon workshop for kids ages 9 to 13 called Science Saturday. The classes cover basic topics related to electricity, such as static electricity, motors, and currents, and kids get to take a completed project home too. “We’re lucky to have some great teachers who are very professional and have a great way of making electricity easy to understand for the kids,” Dave said, adding that they’re always trying to expand what they offer in the classes and find more volunteers who are willing to share their knowledge.
Dave Swanson explains the history of the Tesla coil, one of the AMRE's most electrifying pieces.
The AMRE now features a Static Electricity Learning Center with a Van de Graaf generator and other interactive displays that kids can touch. Another big crowd pleaser is the Tesla coil, which radiates electricity and was originally designed to be large enough to power a whole city.
The exhibits at AMRE are organized in chronological order, so you can see the scientific progression from the Dawn of the Electrical Age in the 17th century to the Golden Age of Radio. If you have questions along the way, you can always find a museum employee or volunteer who will be happy to turn things on and explain the historical importance of these artifacts.
The museum also arranges specialized group tours, and can bring the wonders of electricity to classrooms and schools throughout Whatcom County. “Our motto is that discovery sparks invention,” Dave said. “We want kids, and all visitors, to take an interest in something that’s a part of their daily lives. Everyone uses electricity.”
The American Museum of Radio and Electricity is located at 1312 Bay Street. Museum hours are 11 AM to 4 PM Wednesday through Saturday, and admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. When you sign up to become a member, you can enjoy perks like free admission, discounts, and invitations to exclusive museum events. To find out more, call (360) 738-3886 or visit the AMRE.