Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History will host the world
premiere of "Peter Rabbit's Garden," a multi-media exhibition
on the literature and life of Beatrix Potter. The children's book
author and illustrator is best known for the creation of Peter Rabbit,
the title character of the early 20th-century British author's first
in a series of 23 tales published between 1902 and 1930. The exhibition
opens on February 9 and continues through May 27.
to introducing the character of Peter Rabbit, the exhibition will
acquaint visitors with the richness of Potter's achievements in
art, science and land preservation.
show will appeal to adults and children alike," said Dennis
O'Connor, director of the Museum of Natural History. "We have
a special opportunity to demonstrate how Beatrix Potter was affected
by the natural world and how she, in turn, inspired children through
her work and cared for the environment that fueled her creativity."
Born in London
in 1866, Beatrix Potter became a keen observer of natural life at
an early age. Starting as a child, she filled sketch books and journals
with her observations on the world around her. She also delved substantially
into scientific theory and as a landowner adopted methods of agricultural
preservation. Potter built up a 4,000-acre estate in the English
Lake District of 15 farms that she ultimately donated to the National
Trust of England.
is divided into nine areas: Introduction, Peter's Friends, A Victorian
Childhood, A Life in Nature, Mr. McGregor's Garden, The Tales of
Beatrix Potter, In Beatrix Potter's Footsteps, The Storytelling
Tree, and The Gallery. An audio-visual theater will complement the
exhibition with presentations on Beatrix Potter and her work.
- All 23 of
the "little books" as well as a giant "little book"
that gives biographies of the characters such as Benjamin Bunny,
Jemima Puddle-duck, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tiggy-winkle,
Mr. Tod and others
of Potter's scientific work including her theory on the germination
- A giant
flower pot and vegetables
of Beatrix Potter with her family and friends taken by her father,
an early expert in the field of photography
- A 360°
panorama of Potter's famous Hill Top garden in the English Lake
- A story-tellers
tree, where young visitors will hear Potter's tales read aloud
in the exhibition will be accompanied by an extensive museum gift
of animated versions of The Tales of Peter Rabbit will
be held on selected Saturdays. Click
here for more infomation.
Rabbit's Garden" draws on material held in the collections
of the Victoria and Albert Museum in England and the Frederick Warne
Potter exhibit, "Peter Rabbit's Garden," will travel to
the Chilldren's Museum of Manhattan when it leaves the National
Museum of Natural History at the end of May. After that, it will
travel to venues such as the Royal Ontario Museum as well as several
museums in Japan.
Washington DC premiere of Peter Rabbit's Garden is made possible
through the generous support of Voyager Expanded Learning and Bank