May 21st: New York State Museum What lies behind the scenes

Today we went to the New York State Museum in Albany. It was an experience that I have never had before. We got to see what goes on behind the scenes with the archaeologists. On the way there we passed by this church. It's St. Joseph's Church; it's abandoned. Its sad to think that a gorgeous building like this is abandoned. We were told that there was petitions to tear down the building; however these were protested and that is why the building is still standing there.  

St. Joseph's Church

State Museum Sign

Skeletons from the Albany Alms House Cemetery

The picture above was one of my favorite parts of the tour. Andrea Lain, who was the Archaeology collections manager, showed us this collection. It happens to be from Alms House Cemetery in Albany. This site was located right by the Sage College of Albany. I find it truly interesting that there was a poor house in Albany. I also find it fascinating that they were able to make recreations of what the faces looked like just by the skulls and that one of them had a black eye and another one had an impression on her skull. they can also tell whether the person was a male or female which I thought was pretty cool. The skull in the picture below had a development malformation. As a nursing student, I find malformations like this interesting.

Skeleton that formed longways because of the hardening of the Cranial Suture

Cast of a Baby Shoe

The cast of the baby shoe above was found at the Alm's House Cemetery. Andrea explained that many of the people that were found were children or infants.

Tobacco Pipe from Early Native Americans of the Hudson Valley

We learned about the Early Natives of the Hudson Valley by Jon Lothrop, Ralph Rataul, and Lisa Anderson. The tobacco pipe above and the thimbles below were found around the Hudson Valley. 

Thimbles

A drawing of how the natives made their tools

Spearhead

unfinished casts of slave skeletons from Skyler Manor

Difference in hip bones from slaves of Skyler Manor

The pictures below were from the World Trade Center exhibit. The class was split up into groups and sent out to look at various exhibits throughout the museum. Me, Krista, and Katie, were sent to look at New York, and the World Trade Center. After we did our assignment we look through the rest of the exhibits. Out of all of the exhibits, the World Trade Center was my favorite. I was only 6 years old when the tragedy happened, though I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in first grade, and when the principle got the new, he told all of our teachers to bring us into the auditorium. We sat in the Auditorium for the rest of the day.

Fatalities of 9/11

New York Post from 9/11/01

Sign from Recovery of WTC

Fire Truck from the wreckage

The firetruck above absolutely amazes me. I can only imagine the force that would have had to fallen on this to crush it like this. Also in the exhibit was a metal beam from the north tower. 

Four vases with flowers for the four firemen below

These four firemen were displayed with the crushed firetruck. These men were a part of the Engine Company 6 which is where the firetruck came from. 343 firefighters were killed that day. Always remember 9/11/2001