What's going on at SPARK?
From the very beginning, the Museum’s founders wanted to create a major attraction, something that would draw people from all over the world. “We always dreamed of having a signature demonstration, something people couldn’t experience anywhere else,” says John Jenkins, president, CEO & co-founder. “Something grand and dramatic, like the Eiffel Tower, or Old Faithful—just indoors.” On September 13, 2012, …
Of all the classic radios, record players and music boxes displayed in our beloved museum, nothing seems to delight folks quite like the sight and sound of our 1936, WURLITZER Simplex Multi-Selector coin-operated phonograph—more commonly known as, a jukebox. This mechanical marvel invites guests to smile, sway, even swing to the sounds of Tony Bennett, Frankie Lane, and other classic …
The first thing you learn in typing class is where to place your fingers on the keys. The “home row” is located in the middle of the keyboard, and it shouldn’t take but a hot second to realize these keys are not going to be very popular. Virtually every word in the English language uses a vowel, yet there is …
Hello Lovers, everywhere! Valentine’s Day is almost upon us – a favorite time to celebrate love, affection and the people we feel most passionate about. Whether you’re in a long-term, committed relationship, or just going out on a first date, Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to connect with your partner, lover, main squeeze. The question is: What are you …
Anyone who grew up in the 1950s and 60s will tell you that having a transistor radio was nothing short of liberating. They were light, cheap and went anywhere. When compared to the radios of the past they were positively tiny. Measuring inches instead of feet, weighing ounces instead of pounds, made of plastic instead of wood. Much like cell …
Nothing says Christmas like a pyramid shaped evergreen tree, tapered to a point, topped with a star, and filled with tiny lights that flash like stars embedded in the night sky. The tradition of using lights to celebrate cultural and religious holidays can be traced back thousands of years to a variety of ancient civilizations, well before the time of …
Not very long ago, if you wanted to purchase your favorite song, you couldn’t just go to iTunes or Amazon Music (they didn’t exist), and your favorite song wouldn’t instantly appear on your cell phone or computer (they didn’t exist, either). If you went to a store to buy your favorite song, it would not come in a sleeve or …
People always tell us how fascinated they are with Nikola Tesla and his famous lightning machine: the Tesla coil. Visitors travel from all over the world to see our team of devoted electricians perform live demonstrations with a variety of these marvelous devices, including The MegaZapper, one of the largest Tesla coils in the country. ‘‘Loud, scary fun for the …
I’ll never forget the time I asked my Mother how she could possibly tolerate watching a colorized version of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, a movie we enjoyed for years in beautiful black and white. Her response was surprising, immediate and unashamed: “I see the world in color,” she said, barely looking up from her popcorn, “not black and white.” Mom, …
Can a rabbit’s foot bring you good luck? Is it possible to use dousing rods to find water? Can tarot cards predict your future? Will a tin-foil hat protect you from people wanting to control your mind? Is a Ouija board the best way to communicate with a person who just happens to be dead? Today there are many questionable …
