George Washington Carver Museum
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
The George Washington Carver Museum is on the campus of Tuskegee University and is owned and operated by the National Parks Service. It is part of the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site along with Booker T. Washington's Home, "The Oaks". The museum is housed in the university's former laundry facility and has been a museum honoring Carver since 1941.
Images
Carver's early Jesup Wagon
The front of the museum featuring a bust of Carver
A photo of Carver's first lab
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Near the entrance of the museum is a recording of Carver reading one of his favorite poems, “Equipment”; Carver had a very distinct voice that complements his somewhat quirky and lovable image but may come with a more unsavory and even sinister explanation.
In addition to being a scientist, Carver was an artist. Almost all of his paintings were destroyed in a fire, but one painting that was recovered is on display in the museum as a testament to Carver’s diverse talents.
Also on display in the museum are many of Carver’s tools, preserved specimens, and photographs, including his experiments with the soybean, the sweet potato, and of course, the peanut. Part of Carver’s intention with these experiments and discoveries was to harness ways for farmers to get the most from their crops.
Carver implemented distance learning before the Internet and television. He designed the Jesup Wagon, which he would load up with seeds, livestock, plants, tools, and other products of his work and drive out into the community to teach farmers about new, more effective agricultural strategies. He shared with them the value they could get from rotating their crops and from growing versatile crops like soybeans, sweet potatoes, and peanuts.
In addition to being a scientist, Carver was an artist. Almost all of his paintings were destroyed in a fire, but one painting that was recovered is on display in the museum as a testament to Carver’s diverse talents.
Also on display in the museum are many of Carver’s tools, preserved specimens, and photographs, including his experiments with the soybean, the sweet potato, and of course, the peanut. Part of Carver’s intention with these experiments and discoveries was to harness ways for farmers to get the most from their crops.
Carver implemented distance learning before the Internet and television. He designed the Jesup Wagon, which he would load up with seeds, livestock, plants, tools, and other products of his work and drive out into the community to teach farmers about new, more effective agricultural strategies. He shared with them the value they could get from rotating their crops and from growing versatile crops like soybeans, sweet potatoes, and peanuts.
Sources
1. "George Washington Carver Museum." Our Museums [Blog]. Accessed September 7, 2015. http://ourmuseums.com/uncategorized/george-washington-carver-museum.
2. Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. Accessed September 7, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/tuin/index.htm.
2. Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. Accessed September 7, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/tuin/index.htm.