Charlotte Richter
Fort Leavenworth Lamp
The Frontier Army Museum put in a brand new exhibit that includes Lego vignettes of distinguished moments in Buffalo Soldier historical past Sept. 8 beside the carriage exhibit. The show is accessible to guests all year long.
The exhibit, constructed by retired Lt. Col. Joe Hammond, includes 9 Lego dioramas detailing the work of the ninth and tenth Cavalry Regiments, together with their roles within the twenty fifth Infantry Bicycle Corps, the Mexican Punitive Expedition, phone line set up, mapping of the southwest and securing the primary transcontinental railroad.
Hammond stated his curiosity in constructing Lego displays started in Fort Stewart, Ga., when his son began volunteering at museums throughout summer time breaks. Hammond stated he constructed a Lego exhibit about World Warfare II for the first Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum at Fort Bliss, Texas — the place his son volunteered — that was on show from 20172019. He stated he has additionally constructed Lego shows for the Leavenworth Public Library.
Hammond stated when his household moved to Fort Leavenworth, he urged that his son volunteer on the Frontier Army Museum, and they also toured the museum with Museum Technician Megan Hunter. He stated he observed a possibility to show extra details about the Buffalo Troopers, and he proposed one other Lego exhibit.
Hammond labored with Hunter and Mixed Arms Analysis Library librarians to seek out inspiration via archived images and articles. He stated throughout his analysis, he discovered a number of recurring themes, equivalent to defending the railroad and conflicts in Mexico, that helped him format the general exhibit.
“The one (construct) that could be a particular recreation of a photograph I discovered is the (twenty fifth Infantry Bicycle Corps vignette). Every thing else is form of my interpretation of what I learn … a snapshot of an exercise that they did over the 50 years that (the ninth and tenth Cavalry) have been out within the American frontier.”
Hammond stated he additionally selected occasions primarily based on his potential to construct every scene with related, inexpensive elements.
“A few (the vignettes) occurred actual fast, and normally it’s constructing the concept in my head after which seeing if I’ve the elements available or seeing if I’ve to purchase the half and get them organized after which attempt to make it come collectively,” Hammond stated.
“The cattle rustlers (vignette) was straightforward to do, besides I don’t personal any (Lego) cows as a result of they’re tremendous costly, so I needed to borrow cows from someone else.”
He stated for Lego elements he won’t have however wants for a construct, he innovates or sources them from Brick Hyperlink, a web-based neighborhood that buys and sells elements.
“Making an attempt to do stuff that’s traditionally correct is enjoyable, or determining new methods to make use of an element that no person has actually finished earlier than, or (seeing) another person construct one thing in a sure method that’s not one thing Lego did. … Lego doesn’t do navy stuff in any respect.”
Hammond stated he pays consideration to the main points in his Lego builds. For instance, he stated he pulled the blue Cavalry uniform torsos on among the Lego Minifigures within the show from a “Lone Ranger” film Lego set and the Native American torsos from units designed within the Nineteen Nineties. He stated his spouse designed decals for the Army uniforms on different Lego Minifigures to duplicate traditionally correct attire in every scene.
He stated he hopes guests viewing the exhibit will recognize the historical past of the Buffalo Troopers and the choice use for Lego.
Hunter stated the museum had by no means earlier than put in a Lego exhibit, and he or she emphasised the significance of incorporating enjoyable within the museum discipline.
“We delight ourselves on being family-friendly, however the museum doesn’t essentially have displays that play via a baby’s creativeness, and this is a chance to focus on that,” Hunter stated. “(Historical past) doesn’t need to be boring and off, it may be enjoyable, and Lego is an effective way to inform the story in a pleasant, enjoyable, colourful method — it’s ‘edutainment.’”
Hammond stated he’ll proceed constructing and taking part in large-scale builds with KC Brick Lab, a membership for grownup followers of Lego with greater than 500 members on-line and about 80 members actively constructing Lego collectively. He stated he has a purpose to assemble an exhibit for the World Warfare I Museum in Kansas Metropolis, Mo.
The Frontier Army Museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday via Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
