James Melonas, AMST205 Project 5

       "A study of the toys of long ago reveals facts in the history of the races, gives some definite ideas of the civilization and customs of the past, and portrays the life of the people who made them and the interests of the children who played with them."

              - Augusta M. Swan

Before the airplane, the railroad was especially vital to the lives of Americans. They were a way of bringing food, resources and people previously unimagineable distances. It is in this context that the model train found in the Greenbelt museum will be studied.

The Train - A study of the artifact with first-hand accounts from the time.  

Model Railroads - A look into the popularity and appeal of model railroads.

Social Context - A discussion of prevailing notions about toys and specifically the benefits of model train building.  

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Explore the entire Virtual Greenbelt Museum.