Children can learn a history lesson through the middleof August

Tag : cartoon slippers

MONTEZUMA -- Children can learn a history lesson through the middleof August while learning more about one of the most famous comicstrip characters of the 20th Century at the Stauth Museum.
Kim Legleiter, director of the Stauth Museum, said she booked"Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace," which will be at the museumuntil Aug. 17, three years ago because she thought the glimpse atCharles Shultz's "Peanuts" comic strip would be a fun summerexhibit.
"I don't know if people realize you can learn history from acartoon," Legleiter said.
The exhibit focuses on one of Snoopy's more popular personas -- theFlying Ace -- which has Snoopy pretending to be a World War Ipilot, complete with cap, goggles and scarf. The scenes in thecomic strip have Snoopy perched on top of his Sopwith Camel(doghouse) as he battles the Red Baron.
The traveling exhibit includes 40 panels of cartoon strips, alongwith information about the characters and historical references onseparate documents.
For example, Shultz didn't like using the term "basket case" whenreferring to people experiencing anxiety. A World War II veteran,he knew the term originally was used during World War I to refer toa soldier who had lost all of his limbs and was carried away in abasket rather than a stretcher.
Visitors to the museum also can learn that Snoopy's rival, the RedBaron, was Manfred von Richthofen, a real-life German pilot whoterrorized the skies during World War I. There is more Snoopytrivia: His dog food was labeled "For dogs who flew in World War Iand understand a little French."
Along with the exhibit are Peanuts-themed collections fromsouthwest Kansas residents. There are ceramic figurines, Snoopybooks, lunch boxes, Christmas tree ornaments, slippers, alarmclocks, pillows and more.
There also is an activity area in a separate room. Children can sitdown and color Snoopy in coloring books, or they can learn how todraw a cartoon dog if they follow a poster's instructions.
It's something the whole family can enjoy, Legleiter said.
"I thought it'd be a fun exhibit," Legleiter said. "It'smulti-generational."
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdaythrough Saturdays, and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. Call themuseum at (620) 846-2527 or visit stauthmemorialmuseum.org for moreinformation.