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Tag: Jules Verne

On Book Puzzles and Hot Air Balloons

While at the Smithsonian Libraries Research Annex (SLRA) during the second week of my Smithsonian Libraries internship, I was asked to select and research texts in SLRA’s collection for the Adopt-a-Book Program. Adopt-a-Book is an opportunity for bibliophiles to “adopt” a book from one of the Smithsonian Libraries’ twenty-one branches, granting them acknowledgement through a virtual bookplate in the SIL online catalog, SIRIS. Potential donors can view the books up for adoption on the Libraries website, along with a brief history and description of each. In addition to generating revenue, Adopt-a-Book is a great way to tell and preserve the stories of physical texts; as I quickly discovered, each book has a unique, often untapped past.

The Fantastic Worlds of Jules Verne

Portrait of Jules Verne illustrating some of his predictions
Portrait of Jules Verne illustrating some of his predictions

Widely considered to be the father of science fiction, Jules Verne was born on February 8, 1828 in the French seaport town of Nantes. Despite his father wanting him to follow in his footsteps as a lawyer, Verne dreamt of an adventurous life at sea and even secretly procured a spot as a cabin boy. As the legend goes, Verne’s plan was discovered by his father before the ship could set sail and concluded with Verne promising that he “would travel only in imagination.”

Calling All Steampunk Fans!

Photo of author Rosalind Williams
Author Rosalind Williams

Engineering Romance in Late 19th Century Literature, featuring Rosalind Williams
Date: November 28, 2012, 5:00 pm
Location: Smithsonian Institution Castle

Jules Verne (1828-1905) and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) were well-known writers of romance in the late l9th century.  They were also fascinated by engineering, both as well-informed observers and as lay engineers. This talk will describe this convergence of engineering and romance in their lives and times and reflect upon its implications for our own lives and times. This event will take place on Wednesday, November 28 at 5:00 p.m. in the Smithsonian Institution Castle building.

Space Day 2011

On Saturday, May 7, 2011, the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall will be hosting Space Day from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. This free annual event, sponsored by Lockheed Martin, provides visitors with opportunities to learn about space through hands-on exhibits, activities, and presentations by astronauts and other space experts. In keeping with the program’s mission to provide a fun learning experience for all ages, there will be several activity and presentation stations for children and teens, including Alka Seltzer-powered rockets, astronaut paper dolls, and LEGO spacecraft models.

Brrr…

Today is the first day of winter. Some Ella Jenkins music might get you in the right, chilly mood.—Elizabeth Periale Image from: Jules Verne, From the Earth to the Moon more »