參觀海事博物館的遊客乘坐加州的高桅帆船「加利福尼亞號」（Californian）出海遊覽。(? George Adkins/Maritime Museum of San Diego)

想像一下1898年內布拉斯加州（Nebraska）鄉村地區的景象——一輛馬車走在小鎮主街（Main Street）上，一位算數老師在只有一間教室的學校里給學生們上課，還有從店鋪里飄出來的剛做好的巧克力的香味。

在「活生生的」歷史博物館中，參觀者不用依靠想像，而是能親歷歷史。

以下介紹美國各地的三座生活歷史博物館，側重於不同的美國歷史時期。

斯圖爾草原拓荒者博物館（Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer）

斯圖爾博物館（Stuhr Museu）坐落在內布拉斯加州中部草原高高的草叢中，保存了在中西部定居的早期拓荒者的歷史。

博物館執行館長喬·布萊克（Joe Black）說：「我們講述美國這個地區的故事——哪些事能行、哪些不行，不同文化如何發生衝突……這個地區的成長如何成為整個美國的成長的一部分。」

鐵路小鎮（Railroad Town）由歷史學家們管理，他們看管鎮上的商鋪和住家。參觀者能在錫匠鋪打制工具，在店鋪里買糖果，或在鐵匠鋪觀看燒紅的炭火。

這個面積80公頃的地塊上有波尼族（Pawnee）定居的木屋，以及19世紀的平原村鎮「鐵路小鎮」。 (? Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer)

布萊克說：「『活生生的歷史』深受歡迎。參觀者能夠自己看到、聞到、聽到、摸到或親身參與一項歷史活動。」

博物館生動鮮活的聖誕節（Christmas）、萬聖節前夜（Allhallows Eve）及獨立日（Fourth of July）慶祝活動吸引著來自全州及全美各地的遊客。在暑假期間，歷史學家們教授釣魚、騎馬、烘培、繪畫等各種課程。

布萊克說：「我認為我們的優勢在於能讓你忘記你是在一個博物館裡，哪怕只有短短一秒，因為你讓自己完全沉浸在活生生的鐵路小鎮中。我們能夠創造這種時刻。」

普利茅斯種植園（Plimoth Plantation）

普利茅斯種植園（Plimoth Plantation）於1947年建立在馬薩諸塞州（Massachusetts）歷史名城普利茅斯，講述了定居在該地區的17世紀英國殖民者以及該地區原住民萬帕諾亞格人（Wampanoag）的歷史。

每年有30多萬名遊客前來參觀，漫步在1624年英國村莊的街頭，在水力穀物磨坊購買玉米粉，並同現今的萬帕諾亞格人交談。

訓練有素的歷史學家穿著當時的服裝讓參觀者身臨其境地了解歷史。(? Plimoth Plantation)

博物館工作人員凱特·席安（Kate Sheehan）說：「活生生的歷史具有讓參觀者發生轉變的力量，能對你今後看世界的方式產生真正深遠的影響。」

席安介紹說，某些展品在其他任何地方都看不到，例如從英國開到普利茅斯的五月花二號船（Mayflower II）的複製品。五月花二號船是英國人民贈送的禮物，於1957年由該博物館收藏。

席安說：「她是一個漂浮的課堂。五月花二號船講述了1620年那次航行的歷史……而且她本身就是一艘有歷史價值的船。」五月花二號船現在正在修繕之中，將於2020年回到這裡紀念清教徒停靠在普利茅斯400周年。

聖迭戈海事博物館（Maritime Museum of San Diego）

在聖迭戈海事博物館（Maritime Museum of San Diego），參觀者能夠登上歷史跨度長達500年的船隻以及船隻的複製品。

歷史講解員在白天和晚間的活動中帶領參觀者親歷歷史 (? Ryan Hawk/Maritime Museum of San Diego)

參觀者通過參加教育性活動能夠登上這些船隻，從那些裝扮成船員的講解員那裡學到知識，甚至能乘坐一艘1542年西班牙大帆船的複製品或全世界仍能航行的歷史最悠久的「印度之星」（Star of India）出海航行。

孩子們通過在船上幫忙從事各項工作學會團隊合作的技能，大人們則在了解聖迭戈海軍的歷史的同時享受乘船出遊。

博物館工作人員特麗莎·斯姆倫（Theresa Smullen）說：「這不僅僅是一座供人參觀的博物館。它還能讓你離開陸地航行入海，讓你切實擴展對西海岸（West Coast）的了解，並加深對我們豐富的海事傳統以及同太平洋世界的歷史淵源的認識。」

Living history museums bring the past to life

Imagine the year 1898 in rural Nebraska — a horse-drawn carriage drives down Main Street, an arithmetic teacher lectures to students in a one-room schoolhouse, the smell of freshly made chocolate drifts from the mercantile.

At 「living」 history museums, visitors don』t have to imagine. Museumgoers experience the past for themselves.

Here are three living history museums across the United States highlighting different periods in the country』s history.

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

Nestled among the tall prairie grasses of central Nebraska, Stuhr Museum preserves the memory of the early pioneers who settled the Midwest territory.

「We tell the story of this part of the country — how things worked and didn』t work, how the cultures clashed … how the growth of this part of the country was part of the growth of America,」 says Joe Black, the museum』s executive director.

Railroad Town is staffed by living historians who operate the town』s businesses and homes. Visitors can make tools at the tinsmith』s, purchase candy at the mercantile, and watch embers burn at the blacksmith』s shop.

The 80-hectare property features a Pawnee earth lodge, a log cabin settlement, and the 19th-century-era prairie village Railroad Town. (? Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer)

「What』s popular is the 『living history』 aspect,」 says Black. 「Visitors actually get to see, smell, hear, touch or put their hands on an activity of the past.」

The museum』s immersive Christmas, Allhallows Eve and Fourth of July celebrations draw crowds from around the state, and across the country. In the summer months, historians teach classes that range from fishing and horseback riding to pie baking and watercolor painting.

「That ability to make yourself forget that you are in a museum, even if it』s just for a second, because you let yourself get so immersed in visiting Railroad Town — I think that』s the advantage that we have,」 says Black. 「We are able to create that moment.」

Plimoth Plantation

Founded in 1947 on the historic grounds of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Plimoth Plantation tells the story of the 17th-century English colonists who settled the area and the Wampanoag people native to the region.

More than 300,000 guests visit the museum annually to walk the streets of the 1624 English village, purchase cornmeal at the water-powered grist mill, and engage with the modern Wampanoag people.

Trained historians dressed in period clothing strengthen the immersive experience. (? Plimoth Plantation)

「Living history has the power to transport guests in a way that can have a really profound impact on the way you go forward and see the world,」 says museum staff member Kate Sheehan.

According to Sheehan, certain exhibits such as the Mayflower II — a replica of the original ship that sailed from England to Plymouth — cannot be experienced anywhere else. Mayflower II came under the stewardship of the museum in 1957 as a gift from the British people.

「She is really a floating classroom,」 says Sheehan. 「Mayflower II tells the story of the 1620 voyage … but it』s also a historic ship in her own right.」 Currently under renovation, Mayflower II will return home in 2020 to mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims』 docking in Plymouth.

Maritime Museum of San Diego

At the Maritime Museum of San Diego, visitors can board original boats and replica ships that span 500 years of history.

Living history instructors lead day and overnight programs. (? Ryan Hawk/Maritime Museum of San Diego)

Education programs allow guests to explore the ships, learn from role-playing instructors and crew, and even voyage out to sea on a replica of a 1542 Spanish galleon or board the Star of India — the world』s oldest active sailing ship.

Children build teamwork skills through performing boat chores, and adults enjoy historic day cruises while learning the history of the navy of San Diego.

「It』s more than just a museum you』re walking through,」 said Theresa Smullen, a museum staff member. 「It』s something that takes you off land, to sea, and really gives you a fuller experience of the West Coast and our rich maritime heritage and historic connections with the Pacific world.」

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