A Part of Something Good

Before I left for NYC and Ireland in June, I worked with a group of teenagers on a very unique archaeology project. Now, don’t picture me donning Indiana Jones garb, but also don’t snooze at the thought of cataloging itsy bitsy pottery fragments either.

This program was different. Students were required to get to know their neighborhood. I mean, really get to know it. In order to do that, they learned how to conduct research (and we’re not talking just Google searches either), interviews, use archaeology equipment and documentation.

I think many adults would be surprised at how well the students understand the history of Bay View and Milwaukee. In our round table discussions, they were out-sourcing me in conversations about human migration (a long-term way of looking at immigration), industry, economics and civil rights. Yep, they see the world as much more than what gets directed to their TV, computers and phones. They actually like history and archaeology… they just hate when it’s dull and without any context to their lives.

So the real magic came from what they did with all the things they uncovered. In addition to the skills they already brought to the table, students were trained in storytelling, graphic design, audio/video production and other new media outlets. Hat’s off to the Discovery World team, the hosts of the project, for showing the participants they had a voice and a lot of ways to let it be heard.

Showcasing Bay View

The centerpiece of their project was constructed while I was away in the heart of Milwaukee’s Bay View community. A “Compass” on the lawn of the Historical Society’s headquarters points to 30 landmarks around the community. Each point includes photos and descriptions with information the students determined were important to share with their peers.

Sites include the location of an early Native American settlement, Lake Michigan shipwrecks, notable residences, historic architecture, significant archaeological sites and other important places and events that shaped Bay View.

The site also features banners designed by the students that display elements specific to their personal archaeology… photos, maps, x-rays, artifacts, personal marks and quotes from interviews. Students also created a walking tour of the neighborhood that can be downloaded.

Personal Invitation

The public installation is on display for the rest of the summer, and special events are planned on August 14 and 21. At the events, the public are invited to contribute to the project by offering their Bay View stories, photos, artifacts and even their faces to be photographed.

Here’s the official website: http://www.discoveryworld.org/bayview/