Sub museum in Groton CT

MarkShot · 08-14-05, 12:23 PM

I have no doubt that the breadth and depth of information which you can find on the Web, in books, and on the History Channel exceeds what is available at many real world exhibits. For me, that does not diminish the value of the exhibit.

I recently was is Baltimore, Maryland a few days. I had a free Sunday to visit the Inner Harbor. Although I knew about the Science Center, Aquarium, the Constellation ... I was pleasantly surprised to find and tour the Torsk there (Tench Class WWII veteran sub).

Despite all that I have read, it still meant something to see it all laid out in front of you. Also for young people who have yet to become avid readers, it brings history to life as they are much more visual and tactile oriented. Who can say whether one of those young boys or girls on the Torsk that day will one day serve in the submarine fleet ... a desire/dream born on the Torsk?

Even with all the access to information and historical exhibits, it is so hard to truly understand (I mean "feel") history. Pearl Harbor - I have seen countless documentaries (b/w & color), movies, interviews, and toured Hawaii, and yet I don't know if I comprehend that event. The closest I came to comprehension was on 09/11, 12th, 13th ... (having lived many years in NYC and worked in and around Wall St.). For the first time, I had some sense what it must have felt like the days following the attack. How a public that wanted to stay out of another world blood bath all of sudden saw lines in front of recruiting stations ... How meaningless it is for Americans born or matured after the 1930/40's to debate the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as if they somehow know more in hindsight than those who served overseas or waited at home to see a son, husband, father again or find out if their relations overseas died in the camps ...

My point: It is important to preserve history in all of its diverse forms and even when you do ... it is still so hard to truly convey it to those who were not there.

08-14-05, 12:23 PM	#7
MarkShot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,134 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	I have no doubt that the breadth and depth of information which you can find on the Web, in books, and on the History Channel exceeds what is available at many real world exhibits. For me, that does not diminish the value of the exhibit. I recently was is Baltimore, Maryland a few days. I had a free Sunday to visit the Inner Harbor. Although I knew about the Science Center, Aquarium, the Constellation ... I was pleasantly surprised to find and tour the Torsk there (Tench Class WWII veteran sub). Despite all that I have read, it still meant something to see it all laid out in front of you. Also for young people who have yet to become avid readers, it brings history to life as they are much more visual and tactile oriented. Who can say whether one of those young boys or girls on the Torsk that day will one day serve in the submarine fleet ... a desire/dream born on the Torsk? Even with all the access to information and historical exhibits, it is so hard to truly understand (I mean "feel") history. Pearl Harbor - I have seen countless documentaries (b/w & color), movies, interviews, and toured Hawaii, and yet I don't know if I comprehend that event. The closest I came to comprehension was on 09/11, 12th, 13th ... (having lived many years in NYC and worked in and around Wall St.). For the first time, I had some sense what it must have felt like the days following the attack. How a public that wanted to stay out of another world blood bath all of sudden saw lines in front of recruiting stations ... How meaningless it is for Americans born or matured after the 1930/40's to debate the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as if they somehow know more in hindsight than those who served overseas or waited at home to see a son, husband, father again or find out if their relations overseas died in the camps ... My point: It is important to preserve history in all of its diverse forms and even when you do ... it is still so hard to truly convey it to those who were not there. __________________ War games, not wars! --- Only a small few profit from war (that should not stand)!