Event #1: San Diego Model Railroad Museum

For my first event, I attended the Model Railroad Museum located in San Diego’s Balboa Park. I was amazed at the amount of detail and effort put into the exhibits that depicted miniature railroad cities from the mid to late 1900’s. Some, not all, had well known railroad landmarks or routes, for example, the Bakersfield to Mojave Dessert route with the iconic Tehachapi Loop. The artistic detail integrated into the small people, cities, and railroads made this museum an artistic mystery.

Every exhibit has features that are mathematically calculated into the appropriate scale. The size proportion is accurate when comparing the people, trains, and buildings. Trains cross at the right time, and the little people resemble real world actions, such as attending a diner. However, math and art together is probably not the first thing you would think about while visiting, but both are very important towards the proper function of the exhibit.

When you have several trains moving at the same time, the museum operator needs to be aware of the electricity pattern and make sure the trains do not crash at an intersection. With so much going on, a small electric or timing mistake could cause everything to shut down. Important details like mathematically calculating the speed, and train length are all crucial numbers that play an important role.

With so much going on in some of the exhibits, visitors take time to examine each one. This is how the museum educates by attracting all ages to the exhibits. The detail engages visitors and teaches the importance of railroads during the 1900’s. Like we have learned in class, Robinson claims that we all do not learn or work the same. Some people need to see it to understand it and, since they cannot travel back in time, what better way than seeing a miniature version. This is how I captivated my idea for my midterm project.

For my midterm project I wanted to design a tool that people could use when attending an art museum. They would have the ability to engage in whatever event, place, or action, taking place in the painting they were viewing. Not everyone is an art enthusiast, and might not understand paintings that well, therefore, like this museum does, it would be nice to see how life was like at a different time.

I would definitely recommend my classmates to attend this entertaining museum. If you are a San Diego native, you will get a kick out of the small-scale monuments. This museum is great for all ages and gives in depth historical background. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is an artistic mystery.