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We probably don’t think much about
it, but I realized while writing this column that many parks
actually have collections within their boundaries. By
“park” I am really referring to diverse larger
municipal and country, even state parks. In many places I’ve
visited in the United States within such a park there is a related
museum — this true of the ranger station at the entrance to
the Smokey Mountain National Park, the long-ago historical building
in Grant Park, Atlanta, and seashore parks such as on
Chicago’s waterfront. After all it makes sense if a visitor
arrives at a mountain or seaside park — closely related
exhibits, collections, as well as gift shops with memorabilia, make
a sensible, handy addition to the green grasses and beautiful
views.
The National Parks have well displayed
historic photographs and artifacts — from Hawaii’s
Volcano Park, to that Tennessee ranger station, to the Arches
museum below street level in St. Louis, the several quilting
museums in Kentucky and Illinois. If you go, you find out more
about the place than you expect, more than about eruptions,
mountain wild-life, westward expansion, early American crafts. You
suddenly become aware of how people live now but also long ago.
Such was my own experience at the Brooker
Creek Preserve in northern Pinellas County. Amid the
Preserve’s acres — a piney, palmy swampy wilderness
— there are numerous boardwalks. Visitors can stroll along
without danger to the wildlife or plants, a quiet walk to observe
birds and experience undeveloped Florida. My visiting excursion was
in celebration with fellow members of the 50th birthday of the
Clearwater Chapter of The National League of American Pen Women. A
rustic setting to inspire our writer, composer, and artist
members.
As to collections in this special Brooker
Creek meeting place… there is, of course, a natural
collection of animals and plants. However, in the more traditional
idea of collecting, there is a small theater positioned in a
replica of an original barn on this land — where visitors sit
on plank benches to watch a clever 12-minute historical film
— supposedly viewing all as if looking out the barn door.
Special effects offered characters on screen talking and
interacting with another actor on a transparent screen near us
— to encourage reality. From “outside” he threw
an orange which was handily caught by the inside actor —
remember both characters were film images!
In the barn there are authentic, old-days
farm items, a crock, a till, a lantern and even a small box
displaying arrowheads supposedly found on this property.
In the afternoon, seated in a large room
whose back walls were mostly glass, we could view the Florida scene
— trees with Spanish moss and scrubby palms, as actress Betty
Jean Steinshouer came to us with still another view of collecting
— developing from many sources — a dramatic portrayal
of a famous Florida activist — her dramatic presence quite
fitting in this Preserve where so many slants are offered and
encouraged to preserve, conserve, restore Florida’s natural
scene. The actress came to us as Marjory Stoneman Douglas, author
of Rivers of Grass. Through Douglas’s words we heard the
story of the undervalued, under-protected Everglades.
We who listened collectively reminded
ourselves about helping the precious environment in which we live.
Steinshouer’s acting — just as did Douglas’s
writing — brought this Preserve site into perspective, as
well as predicting the dire outcome for the place if people do not
consider and protect the environment.
After her performance, Steinshouer told us
of her own ongoing research, her own professional journey
collecting and examining many materials such as newspapers and
photos, while developing such a performance. This must have been a
considerable task as her portrayal of Douglas is in authentic
character, voice and costume. It engaged us for nearly an hour.
Steinshouer showed all the characteristics of a true collector, a
passionate synthesizer.
While strolling slowly back through the
sunny and shadowy walkways to my car, I resolved to dig up or check
out Rivers of Grass and reread Douglas’s warnings, relevant,
if not more so, today, as then.
There was another special resolution.
Besides paying closer attention to the issues now called
“green” involving recycling and leaving the environment
supported, rather than doing things which damage, I promised myself
to visit more parks owned by Pinellas County. I decided to focus on
their collections of relevant photos and artifacts — to
examine the preservation messages addressed. Besides, such places
are refreshing, encouraging, educational and usually peaceful.
These days peaceful alone would be a reason for a visit. Maybe even
gather our wits!
©2007 Rosemary Lee Potter All Rights
Reserved
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