Living Museum of the Sixties

A few years ago, we went to Stawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH. with my parents. If you've not been there, it's a neighborhood in Portsmouth where each house is a historical recreation of a different time period: everything from the 19th century to 1970s. What I found unique among this sort of "living museum," were the 1940s vintage house and store. They provided an opportunity for my parents to reminisce, telling stories I had not heard before.

And that got me thinking. What if there were a living museum, not of the 18th century or Plymouth Plantation, but of the 1950s or 1960s? What a great opportunity for parents and grandparents to share their stories with their children and grandchildren.

So here's what I envision: In New England, where I live, put the majority of it in a large warehouse. This way there is no weather damage to anything. Inside this warehouse, build a neighborhood of the 60s, complete with street, period cars in the driveways of 1960s era suburban homes.

There could be a diner, or perhaps a period resaurant, like Howard Johnson's or Burger Chef. You could have a movie theater, or a miniature golf range, perhaps a slot car store, complete with track. The more diversity, the better. There could be a corner drug store, or a Five and Dime. Some of these could be museums, but others could be real establishments; have dinner at the diner, for example. It might be fun if you created your own "Sixties Money." When you enter the Sixties, you "buy" or exchange your 21st century money for 1960s money. Then you could "buy" a 20-cent hamburger (although the 20 cents cost you $1.50 in real money). It would help give a sense of how much inflation there has been.

The houses would be furnished like the 60s - it is still a good time to pick up a lot of 60s stuff, without spending too much.

You could either charge admission, or support the place through grants, donations and the revenue from the businesses.

So there you have it. I'm not aware of anyplace like this. If you know of one, please let me know. If you decide to create one, Just tell me when the opening will be (and send me a ticket).