You may be aware when you enter the museum that the appearance of anything that could be considered technology didnt occur until about 150 million years after the jurassic period. We visited the museum of jurassic technology during our honeymoon and i couldnt be more surprised. Like a coat of two colors, the museum serves dual functions. On the one hand the museum provides the academic community with a specialized repository of relics and artifacts from the lower jurassic, with an. As its name implies, the museum of jurassic technology is an oxymorona paradoxical, serious, silly mystery of a place. Pronged ants, horned humans, mice on toast and other marvels of jurassic technology 1995 by lawrence weschler.
This book presents insights into several fascinating topics. In its original sense, reads a museum brochure, the term museum meant a spot dedicated to the muses a place where mans mind could attain a mood of aloofness above everyday affairs. The museum of jurassic technology primi decem anni, jubilee catalogue hardcover january 1, 2002 by na author 4. Nov 25, 2019 now, believe me, there is no exaggeration in the above story, that is what i saw in my 45 minutes in the museum of jurassic technology.
It traveled for several years before settling on venice boulevard in late 1987. If you would like to receive advance notice of these events, you may sign up for our mailing list. Wilsons cabinet of wonder, a finalist for both the pulitzer prize and the national book critics circle award in 1995. The museum of jurassic technology, located in culver city, was founded by david hildebrand wilson and diana drake wilson husband and wife. Museum of jurassic technology gift shop special events. Jul 12, 2017 a place that has uneasily carried the sobriquet strangest museum in america since it was founded in the late 80s, the museum of jurassic technology is a living love letter to the concept.
According to lawrence weschler, who wrote about the museum in his highly acclaimed book mr. The museum is supported by donations instead of a flat admission fee and a hundred bucks would be worthwhile not just as payment for the joy of the visit but also as an encouragement to keep the museum going. Photograph courtesy of the museum of jurassic technology. The jurassic technology museum is a witty, selfconscious homage to private museums of yore, such as the 16thcentury ashmolean at oxford, where objects from science, nature and art were displayed.
Or anyway, thats the origin story ive long remembered and told. On the one hand the museum provides the academic community with a specialized repository of relics and artifacts from the lower jurassic, with an emphasis on those that demonstrate unusual or curious technological qualities. When i asked one of the workers what it was that i was looking at, they told me they prefer the guests to take what they want out of it and do not like to answer questions on it. There is a sense of familiarityprovided by the careful presentation, the informative text, the.
It is the creation of a visionary named david wilsonwho for the past decade has been displaying exhibits that stretch the boundaries. The author is a compelling writer with a great sense of absurdity. He tells of this very odd place, the museum of jurassic technology, which holds a dazzling. Pronged ants, horned humans, mice on toast, and other marvels of jurassic technology, which describes in detail many of its exhibits. This presentation of david wilsons museum mirrors the real experience of visiting the mjt and presents questions about the role of. The museum of jurassic technology in culver city, calif. A subversive, witty and brilliant enterprise, the museum of jurassic technology challenges the very nature of what a museum is or should be, while also taking its place as one of the most. The museum is mentioned in the novel the museum of innocence, by turkish nobel laureate orhan pamuk. Nov 10, 2018 your museum of jurassic technology mjt first came to my attention in 1995 when i read an excerpt from lawrence weschlers mr. The core of wrapper consists of forty plates in which maryann ray and robert mangurian investigate facades in general and the specific facade of the museum of jurassic technology, culver city, california. I have yet to visit the museum of jurassic technology but empathize with your feelings about not knowing what you learned but liking it. The museum of jurassic technology culver city, california. The museum of jurassic technology is an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the lower jurassic and was the subject of a book by lawrence weschler entitled mr.
This is a really unique place and you realize it the moment you get through the front door. It was founded by david hildebrand wilson and diana drake wilson husband and wife 1 in 1988. Wandering through a narrow maze of dimly lit dioramas and exhibits that showcase obscure heroes of technology from ancient times to mid last century, this is most certainly a learning opportunity and definitely a. Wilson, your museum of jurassic technology mjt first came to my attention in 1995 when i read an excerpt from lawrence weschlers mr.
A subversive, witty and brilliant enterprise, the museum of jurassic technology challenges the very nature of what a museum is or should be. The museum of jurassic technology 9341 venice boulevard culver city, california 90232. The museum of jurassic technology is host to a variety of musical performances, lectures, and other special events. Pronged ants, horned humans, mice on toast, and other marvels of jurassic technology, attempts to explain the mystery of the museum of.
The museum of jurassic technology is unique, to day the least. Faced with the decision to either purchase the buildings or vacate, the museum issued a public appeal for funds to help secure the property and preserve the museum of. Pronged ants, horned humans, mice on toast, and other marvels of jurassic technology a pulitzer prize finalist, sought to distinguish fact from fiction through interviews with founder david wilson and research into the claims of museum of jurassic technology exhibits. Weschlers book takes its reader through the museum of jurassic technology and inspires curiosity, wonder, confusion and disbelief. Museum of jurassic technology, culver city, california. Its unusual and it gets more and more interesting during your visit.
Jan 10, 2012 the museum of jurassic technology in culver city, calif. The museum of jurassic technology is such a place, a separate reality that imbues its visitors with the means to look at mundane ordinariness with a new. Museum of jurassic technology gift shop your cart is empty shop home new additions apparel recommended books commemorative china dvds. On the other hand the museum serves the general public by providing the visitor a handson experience of life. Oct 12, 2012 photograph courtesy of the museum of jurassic technology.
And at some point, as you move through the darkened rooms of the museum of jurassic technology, you might wonder if youve gone insane theres pope john paul ii carved out of flecks of dust and a single human hair and perched in the eye of a needle. As befits the realitywarping ethos of the mjt, it seems not. It was founded in 1987 by david wilson, who received a macarthur genius grant in 2001, and was the subject of lawrence weschlers book. When i asked one of the workers what it was that i was looking at, they told me they prefer the guests to take what they. Wilsons cabinet of wonder, a visit gives one a feeling of being a bit out of order, all shards and powder. The book is like one of those falsebottomed conjurers boxes, for instead of one ending it has four. As befits the realitywarping ethos of the mjt, it seems not to be true. I was first discomfited to find that the museums wonders could be how. Museum of jurassic technology gift shop recommended books. These include the micominiature art of hagop sandaljian, the medical oddities collection of thomas. The museum was the subject of a 1995 book by lawrence weschler entitled mr. It traveled for several years before settling on venice boulevard in. The museum prohibits cell phones and photographs inside.
I read this book after visiting the beautiful and strange museum of jurassic technology. Finalist for both the national book critics circle award for nonfiction, and the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. Now, believe me, there is no exaggeration in the above story, that is what i saw in my 45 minutes in the museum of jurassic technology. Honest americans to help in aiding, preserving, and. On the other hand the museum serves the general public by providing the visitor a handson. If you would like to receive advance notice of these events, you may sign up for our mailing list there are no upcoming events currently listed. The museum of jurassic technology primi decem anni, jubilee. I was led to this book through a stumbleupon the museum of jurassic technology.
On the eve of its tenyear anniversary, the museum of jurassic technology learned that the buildings in which the museum is housed were to be placed on the market in early 1998. Museum of jurassic technology, culver city roadtrippers. Museum creator david wilson, a man of prodigiously unusual imagination, has been mounting a series of unbelievable exhibits there for the last fifteen years. Tucker rosebrock, stephanie rizzo, breana steele and ben hahn. Pronged ants, horned humans, mice on toast, and other marvels of jurassic technology is a book by lawrence weschler primarily about the museum of jurassic technology and. Wilson was also the recipient of a macarthur fellowship aka genius grant in 2001, so hes doing something right. Book now at 2 restaurants near museum of jurassic technology on opentable. Mjt was founded in 1989 by artists david wilson and diana wilson as an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and public appreciation of the lower jurassic. Wilson was also the recipient of a macarthur fellowship aka genius grant in. A place that has uneasily carried the sobriquet strangest museum in america since it was founded in the late 80s, the museum of jurassic technology is a living love letter to the concept. The book includes essays by ralph rugoff, lars lerup, pat morton and notes on the proposals by david wilson, the museums founder. From the museum gift shop, narrow exhibit rooms offer a tidy arrangement of dioramas, strange machines, spotlit oddities, and mysterious photography. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
The museum of jurassic technology address and hours. This presentation of david wilsons museum mirrors the real experience of visiting the mjt and presents questions about the role of museums in todays and yesterdays society. Solemnly, it serves up displays on a species of bat that can fly through. Museum of jurassic technology wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Museum of jurassic technology culver city 2020 all you.