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Hands-on History: Moving Images
May 18 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Hands-on History is a free activity series every first and third Saturday of every month. Open to the public!
On May 11th, 1896, William Heise, an assistant for Thomas Edison, was testing a new camera and filmed “Herald Square” in New York City. There was no plot, no story, no characters, and just a few minutes long. This was the first film shot in NYC and only the beginning for cinema. Movie-lovers rejoice!
Stop by the museum to make your own thaumatrope! The thaumatrope, invented in 1826 by the English physician J.A. Paris, is an optical toy that creates a moving image when the instrument is twirled. By drawing an image on the front and back of a piece of paper, you can make a “moving image” when twisted. This was a popular 19th century toy and an early introduction to film.
All ages welcome!
