[Milsurplus] Phoney displays... another perspective.

[Brian/VE3UU]

Dave, AB5S, makes the point that phoney displays are misrepresentations
which, of course, is quite true. There is another perspective however.

 

The Diefenbunker, Canada's Cold War Museum, a large underground nuclear
bunker, was purchased for $3 (yes, $3!) by a group of concerned citizens who
didn't want to see the 100,000 sqft facility destroyed. It had been stripped
empty when we took it over and the first four tours that I paid good money
for allowed me to see nothing but empty rooms, and I had to use my
imagination as to what it might have looked like when it was operational.

 

Over the years we have been able to find a number of "level 1 artifacts"
(original to the facility) which add authenticity to the visitor's tour but
there were still many empty rooms including the communications area. In our
attempt to give the place a sense of realism we have added "level 2
artifacts" which are of the time but not of the Bunker, as well as some
"level 3 artifacts" which are basically eye-candy but do fill the spaces
with appropriate looking exhibits. When I do my weekly public tours, I tell
visitors that I'm a "level 4 artifact" (Old Fart!).

 

We, who are all knowing and all knowledgeable, look and scoff at things that
aren't perfectly as they were. Visitors look and marvel. Personally, I'd
rather our 40,000 annual, unknowledgeable, visitors walk away somewhat
awestruck by the contrived exhibits that wondering what might have been in
all these 358 empty rooms.

 

My view is that a phony exhibit is better than no exhibit. Your mileage may
vary.  J

 

73

Brian/VE3UU

www.VE3UU.com & www.DEWLine.ca