Today's Treasure: Lions and Tigers and ...Elephants!

The American Treasure Tour includes some fantastic life size animal animatronics and likenesses. 

Many like the lion above were used in advertisement for various circuses. 

Treasure Find: Miniature Circus

        Much in the same way that many folks all over the country build tiny villages for their model train sets, building a miniature circus is a fond American past-time for many. The American Treasure Tour houses a few miniature circuses like the one pictured below. 

Many of these models were made with each item painstakingly to scale (1/2 inch equals 1 foot in many cases). Some very dedicated families pass down the tradition, through a few generations, so some circuses have been added to for 50 + years! Just like a model train, these models have working, moving parts!

For more information about this fascinating American past-time, check out the Circus Model Builders, Inc. website

We sure hope that people continue to make really cool models like this one! What other kinds of models do you enjoy making? Send us links to view your excellent model trains, planes, and automobiles! (and circuses)

Real American Treasure: John Phillip Sousa

photo courtesy of religiousliberty.tv

John Phillip Sousa (1854-1932) is best known for composing the famous patriotic tune, "Stars and Stripes Forever." Shortly after he wrote the song, the phonograph was introduced to American Homes. Sousa's work quickly became very famous. 

He was later asked to train musicians for the US Navy band. During his work in the Navy he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Sousa's famous compositions have played on hundreds of mechanical music machines like the ones you can see at the American Treasure Tour.

Funny Friday

TGIF! Here are some cute puppies for funny friday!

Photos from ihashotdog.com

Treasure Find: The Album Collection

We get a real kick out of the fact that every square foot of the American Treasure Tour is covered with great American treasure! Her in the nickelodeon room, you might not even notice the huge collection of LPs on display....in the ceiling!  

When you come visit us, don't forget to look up! 
One of our favorite album covers is Donovan's "Mellow Yellow." What's your favorite album cover?

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American Treasure: Bob Barker

On Mondays, we like to honor a real American Treasure, usually a person who represents something great about America. Who doesn't love Bob Barker? He was born of average means in Washington state in 1923. His mother was a schoolteacher and his father was an electrical foreman.

 Photo via fireballk2588 @ flickr

How did this average guy come to be the game show host that we know and love? He began working at a college radio station where he went to school. His studies were interrupted when he went into training as a fighter pilot during WWII. When he came home, Barker continued his education and his work at the radio station. 

In the early 1950's Barker was "discovered" by Ralph Edwards, a game show producer. In 1956 he became the host of the show "Truth or Consequences." Later, he became host of "The Price Is Right" which is the longest running television show in history. Barker's likable demeanor no doubt helped the show earn this title. He ended each show with a comment about protecting animals in honor of his late wife who loved animals. 

Barker continues to help animals in his retirement. We found this article on treehugger.com claiming that Barker recently donated $5 million to a foundation to help fight Japanese Whaling in the Antartic. 

Funny Friday

My how times have changed...

comic from poofytoo.com

Treasure Profile: Pinchy The Lobster

In between the gems of American history that the American Treasure Tour is dedicated to preserving and presenting, are little (or big) items to remind us that we are all here for the best reason-- to have fun! To that end we proudly present, Pinchy the Lobster.

Is he commemorative of the opening of some famous American factory? No, well, we don't really know. Was he famously displayed at the end of some great American boardwalk? Possibly. He is your average, run of the mill, 8 foot long stuffed lobster.

We like to imagine that he was born on the west coast, and grew up in an LA suburb where he fell in love with acting, and once starred in a horror movie about man-eating giant lobster aliens. (They would make a movie about anything in the 50's)

We think he's rather kitsch, do you know of any serious lobster art? Was it Dali who was rather fond of lobsters?

Real American Treasure: U.S. Olympian Gabby Douglas

The American Treasure Tour salutes team USA in the 2012 Olympic games! Our country's athletes never fail to impress during Olympic season, summer or winter. So far this summer, a shining star stands out on the women's gymnastics team. Sixteen year old Gabby Douglas has already earned two gold medals, and competes tonight, (Monday 08-06-12) for her chance to win a third gold medal on the uneven bars.

This young woman has worked so hard, and had to live apart from her family for the last few months of training. She was charming and articulate during her recent interview on the Today Show. All the more reason for America to just fall in love with her! Way to go Gabby!

Here is a preview of Gabby working the uneven bars:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/gymnastics/viewers-guide-to-the-games-uneven-bars-preview.html

Here is a moving clip of Gabby's family as they reacted to her recent win:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/gymnastics/douglas-familys-emotional-overflow.html

Funny Friday

By Friday, we all need a laugh. so here are some really funny babies. We hope they give you a chuckle!

http://itsalittlebitofrain.blogspot.com/2012/03/thats-funny-friday.html

from believingoutlout.com

http://itsalittlebitofrain.blogspot.com/2012/03/thats-funny-friday.html

Late 19th Century Music Boxes

Music Boxes?!?! These are a lot different than a modern music box with a twirling ballerina! The foremost one in the above image is also a clock made by Seth Thomas with a Regina music works, but the others pictured here are not timepieces-- just fabulous large style music boxes. Many of these were made in the 1870's.

Notice the ornate decoration and wood work on the cases! The large disc inside turns, and the perforated disc runs over a metal "comb" to play the music. Many of these machines were coin operated for commercial use in restaurants, taverns, and hotels.

In a time when machines this big were made just to play one song at a time, this item was a real innovation: an automatic three disc changer! Remember when the CD changer was the hottest thing since sliced bread? Can you imagine if each of your CDs was about 18 inches across and only played one song?