National Constitution Center [RealOne Player]
http://www.constitutioncenter.org/
On July 4, 2003, the new National Constitution Center will open in a brand new facility within Independence Historical Park in Philadelphia that will help it pursue its mission of "increasing public understanding of, and appreciation for, the Constitution, its history, and its contemporary relevance." Visitors will want to take the virtual tour available online, which moves through the building's Great Hall, the Kimmel Theatre (which will be used for museum orientation programs), the DeVos Exhibit Hall, and the rest of the building's different areas. As might be expected, the Web site has an online version of the complete Constitution (in English and Spanish), along with helpful educational resources such as lesson plans for grades K-12. The site is rounded out by information for visitors and a "Save the Bill of Rights!" educational game where students help recover the Bill of Rights by looking for clues in a series of graphic images depicting each right protected by this important document. [KMG]
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Cool Antarctica
http://www.coolantarctica.com/
Paul Ward, the designer of this site, spent over two years in Antarctica as a marine biologist with the British Antarctic Survey. Currently a teacher at a community college in Britain, Ward decided to develop this site to provide information about Antarctica's history, wildlife, and the various explorers who have traveled across the continent. The section featuring Ward's photographs is quite compelling, featuring hundreds of pictures of wildlife, the area's mountains, and icebergs. The historical pages are quite detailed, particularly those about the legendary Ernest Shackleton and his amazing Trans-Antarctica Expedition of 1914 to 1917. Persons looking for material about visiting Antarctica will find a section dedicated to helping people prepare for a visit to the area, including information about various cruise operators and what type of clothing is most suitable. [KMG]
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HIV at Work [pdf]
http://www.hivatwork.org/
Addressing the question of HIV and AIDS in the workplace remains a subject that many employers (and employees) may have difficulty dealing with. This Web site developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers some valuable resources to counteract this problem. Persons viewing the site for the first time may want to take a 10-question interactive quiz that deals with basic information about AIDS before browsing at length. One of the centerpieces of the site is the HIV/ AIDS Resource Guide, which contains fact sheets and other resources to help labor leaders conduct HIV/ AIDS prevention programs and raise general awareness about these conditions. The other sections of the site contain material for employers looking to develop an in-house awareness program, and material on legal issues in the workplace as they relate to HIV/ AIDS. Finally, the site also features a search engine, allowing users to quickly look for information on specific topics. [KMG]
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The National Museum of American Illustration
http://www.americanillustration.org/
Founded in 1998 by Judy A. G. Cutler and Laurence S. Cutler, The National Museum of American Illustration is housed at Vernon Court (Newport, RI), a mansion designed 100 years previously by the firm Carrere and Hastings, architects of other notable buildings such as New York Public Library and the Frick Collection. Portions of the six acres of grounds surrounding Vernon Court were originally landscaped by Frederick Law Olmstead. At the Web site, visitors can view a sampling of works by artists such as N.C. Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, Norman Rockwell, and Elizabeth Shippen Green. Probably the best way to see the museum online is to take the virtual tour. Starting at the floor plan, click any room to see orientating photos and artworks arranged as they are on the walls. There are also images of murals and sculptures, as well as some furnishings, site plans for the gardens, and aerial views of the exterior of the house. [DS]
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The Supreme Court Historical Society [Macromedia Flash Player]
http://www.supremecourthistory.org/
Dedicated to "the preservation and dissemination of the history of the Supreme Court of the United States," the Supreme Court Historical Society was founded in 1974 by the late Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. The Society has a number of public outreach programs, including an annual series of lectures by distinguished scholars. Serving as the online presence of the Society, their site contains a number of helpful features that will be of use to students studying the Supreme Court, or persons looking for background information on the court's history and various justices. Visitors will want to take a look at the Timeline of the Justices, an area devoted to providing biographical sketches of the chief and associate justices beginning in 1789 when the Court held its first session. Information about the current Court justices is also available here, along with a detailed history of the Court and its major decisions during the tenure of each Chief Justice. For students, several quizzes are provided, along with a multimedia presentation on the Supreme Court packing controversy that transpired during President Franklin Roosevelt's second term. [KMG]
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Nikon Web Magazine: Nikon Digital Archives
http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/d-archives/
While the 1970s and 1980s saw an exponential growth in high-tech imports from Japan to the United States, there was another product that had been popular in the States for several decades before this period. Beginning in 1946, the Nippon Kogaku Company decided to bring a popular, low-cost camera to the United States, as their research noted "a big demand can be expected if we make a reasonably-priced camera." Certainly, many companies have various product histories available, but this detailed history of the Nikon camera from 1945 to 1964 is quite fascinating. The site should be of interest to those studying the history of technological innovation, or simply for amateur or professional photographers. Along with the long-form essay on the camera's history (divided into 8 shorter sections), there is an online photo gallery of the cameras themselves and their different lenses, complete with their dimensions, dates of manufacture, and original prices. [KMG]
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The Taj-Mahal Virtual Tour [QuickTime]
http://www.taj-mahal.net/
One of the most instantly recognizable buildings in the entire world, the Taj Mahal is a place that millions of people visit each year from around the world. The building and its grounds were built as a monument to Mumtaz Mahal, the young bride of Shah Jehan, the fifth Mughal emperor. Located in Agra, the complex took 22 years to build and represents the labor of over twenty thousands laborers and craftsmen. For those unable to visit the grounds in person, this virtual tour, provided by the Armchair Travel Company, is an enlightening way to find out more about this lovely building and its history. Along with viewing 360 degree views of the grounds and the various structures located there, visitors can view short films that relate the story of how the Taj Mahal was built and current efforts to preserve the area. The site is available in a number of languages, including English, Hindi, Japanese, and French. [KMG]
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