James Houser (formerly Curator of the St. Louis Museum of Science and Natural History at Oak Knoll Park and Curator/Collection Manager of the St. Louis Science Center) wanted to share his innate curiosity of Nature and the world around as applied to and found in Town & Country. Conservation Commission Member Houser has at the outset desired to share via creative scientific activities, dioramas, and other displays or exhibits the wealth of material and information under, in and around Town & Country to educate, inform and bless our community with its visitors to Longview Farm Park, possibly our other parks and the Municipal Center.
Houser's Concepts for Interpretive Activities
Suggestions for Longview Park Trails:
Identify the Trees and Shrubs. Identify the Rock beneath our feet. A Giant Bird Bath and Feeder. A Human Sun Dial. Identify and Label the Limestone in the retaining wall near the lake. Mississippian Indian Village. An Evening with the Cosmos. Music under the stars.
Suggestions for an Interpretive Center in Longview home/buildings using displays of dioramas, artifacts, photographs, mounted specimens, maps, models and descriptive text:
(Natural History Exhibits) The Topography and Subsurface Geology of Town & Country. The importance of being a "Tree City" (a large world map that shows the forested areas of the world in 1600 AD, changes in 2000 AD, an aerial photograph of Town & Country taken in the 1930's juxtaposed with one taken in 2000.) Our Animal Neighbors. Spiders and Insects and things that go squish under our feet. The Forest Floor. Stratification of Life in the Forest. Energy Cycle. Reproduction of Plants and Animals. Hazardous Plants. Commercial and Medical Value of Plants. Additional Information on Subject.
The Prehistory of Humans in the Town & Country Region: (using exhibits) The Paleo-Indians: 10,000 BC to 8000 BC. The Archaic Period: 8000 BC to 1000 BC. Woodland Indians: 1000 BC to 1500 AD. The Mississippian Indians: 800 AD to 1500 AD. History of Town & Country.
Before Humans, The Earliest Prehistory of Town & Country: (using exhibits) The Precambrian of Town & Country. The Mississippian Period.For more information on each item, Click Here!
