THE SMITHSONIAN PROJECT

The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. has commissioned a new museum, to be dedicated to the Cold War (1945-1991). The Smithsonian's board of trustees has solicited several proposals for the content of the Cold War museum.

Task :

Your group is going to submit a design proposal for the Smithsonian's Cold War Museum. Assume that you have ANY AND ALL items at your disposal to include in the museum. INCLUDE anything you desire, that is relevant to your exhibition on the Cold War. For example, you may choose to include Neil Armstrong's space suit or even a full sized U2 Spy Plane. Creativity and well conducted research are the essentials to a successful proposal. BE CREATIVE, USE YOUR IMAGINATION!!!

The proposal to be presented to the Smithsonian Board of Trustees should contain 3 elements:

1. Written Overview/Letter:

1-2 page formal business style letter, single spaced. The overview should explain why you choose to implement a particular design. It should also provide an overview of the main topics or "wings" that the museum will be constructed around, these should focus on which of the three approaches your group decided upon. It should explain the purpose of the museum and how that purpose is reflected in the design approach that your design team decided upon. The overview should also make mention of some of the specific items (10-20 KEY artifacts) to be presented and the reasoning behind their selection.

2. Museum Floor Plan:

A Map (actual floor plan): An overview, to scale. Options include: Virtual space (HTML or PowerPoint), 3D model (diorama), a large layout design, graph paper or a CAD program (or by using the drawing tools in Microsoft Word, Adobe Illustrator or other program). Use basic shapes to denote exhibits (it is not required that you draw images). The map should use letters or numbers to identify items within the exhibit and corresponding to the descriptions on the included key.

A Key: Identifying the specific items on display and relevant information needed for the average person to appreciate the exhibit. (NOTE: Explanations of particular items should not be more than 1-2 sentences in length) For example: Item 1.a. Neil Armstrong's space suit- The closed with American Neil Armstrong being the first man on the moon. His famous words "One small step for man, one giant leap for man kind" ended the race to the moon.) A detailed floor plan of the proposed museum should be included. It should detail what exhibits are to be presented and where. The "wings" of the museum should be organized according to the organizational model (approach) that your group selects.

3. Presentation to Board of Trustees:

Each proposal will be orally presented to the Smithsonian's Board of Trustees for their consideration. (The rest of the class will act as the board.) The presentations must be at least 5-10 minutes in length, and no more than 20. It must include visual elements (overview of floor plan, photos, etc.). Use of overheads, posters, PowerPoints, etc. are all acceptable.

Group Roles :

Each member of the design team is to be assigned a specific role. There are unique responsibilities associated with each of these roles and group members should become familiar with their individual expectations. The roles are: historian, publicist, architect, curator.

Historian: You are responsible for explaining the theme of the Cold War proposal. As historian, you should research the Cold War and be able to provide accurate information for your group as they put together the design for the museum.

Publicist: You are in charge of orchestrating a powerful and dynamic presentation of the proposed Cold War Museum to the Smithsonian Board of Trustees. You may be the sole presenter, or you may desire the assistance of the other experts on your team. Regardless of execution, your at least 5-10 minute presentation should detail the various aspects of your proposal while also winning the approval of the trustees.

Curator: You are charged with choosing and describing the specific memorabilia which will occupy the proposed Cold War Museum at the Smithsonian. Each piece must coincide with the theme of the museum and present a vibrant reminder of the specific events and personalities associated with the Cold War. For the purpose of the presentation to the board and time constraints, you should limit your presentation to somewhere between 10-20 KEY exhibit pieces that best articulate your approach to organizing the museum.

Architect: You are responsible for the design and layout of the Cold War Museum proposal. Your design must be easily presentable to a large group. With that in mind, consider sketching the design on large poster board, constructing a diorama or model, creating a virtual tour through the use of HTML, PowerPoint, or any other tech related program that might help you accomplish this task. Be sure to pick a format that is doable, one that accentuates your strengths and skills.

The Approaches:

You and your design team should review the three possible approaches to the Cold War. Each approach provides an outline of information and organization that should be used in the design of the museum. For example, if your design team decided to use the thematic approach, the areas of your museum design should be organized by Cold War theme. You should provide reasoning behind the group's selection of that specific approach to the Cold War (both in the museum overview and in the presentation to the board of directors). The approaches are: thematic, chronological, and geographic. See further on in the document for more information on the various approaches.

Conclusion:

The assignment will conclude with the presentation of the finished designed before the board of trustees. (The class will act as the board.) The trustees will cast votes for the design approach they believe best reflects the theme of the museum. (NOTE: Board members may not cast a vote for their own proposal!!)

The final grade for the assignment will be determined by the following rubric:

COLDWAR MUSEUM MUSEUM RUBRIC

WRITTEN OVERVIEW MUSEUM FLOOR PLAN / DESIGN EXHIBIT LIST / EXPLANATIONS • The written overview is thorough, • The floor plan is an accurate • The exhibition list shows obvious and accurate and reflects a strong degree representation of the museum’s complete research and

E of research and attention to detail. intended design and demonstrates understanding of the topics

C • It contains no inaccuracies and is an the group’s selected approach represented. N

E excellent representation of the through attention to exhibit • The explanations are clear and L intentional design of the museum. selections, placement and layout of accurate. L

E • Excellent use of elements of the museum as a whole. • The artifacts selected are varied and C

X argumentation/persuasion: logos, original.

E pathos, ethos. • Displays excellent planning and • Avoids most common persuasive implementation on the part of the pitfalls. designers. • The written overview is accurate and • The floor plan is an adequate • The exhibition list shows research reflects clear research and some representation of the museum’s and general understanding of the attention to detail. intended design and the group’s topics represented. selected approach. • It contains no major inaccuracies and • The explanations are adequate and

D adequately represents the intentional • Reflects some attention to exhibit understandable. O design of the museum. selections, placement and layout of • The artifacts selected are somewhat O

G • Good use of elements of the museum as a whole. varied and display a degree of argumentation/persuasion: logos, originality. pathos, ethos. • Displays planning on the part of the • Mostly avoids most common designers. persuasive pitfalls. • The written overview is barely • The floor plan is an inaccurate • The exhibition list shows some

Y complete and demonstrates a representation of the museum’s research and minimum

R minimal effort at historic research intended design and demonstrates understanding of the topics O

T and accuracy. little of the group’s selected approach represented.

C • Some use of elements of through attention to exhibit • The explanations are complete, if A

F argumentation/persuasion: logos, selections, placement, and layout of somewhat flawed. S I pathos, ethos. the museum as a whole. • The artifacts selection is complete. T

A • Slips into some of the most common • Displays some planning on the part S persuasive pitfalls, but avoids many of the designers. others. • The written overview is incomplete • The floor plan is a misrepresentation • The exhibition list shows little to no

E and demonstrates little to no effort at of the museum’s intended design research and a fails to represent the L

B historic research or there are severe and demonstrates little of the group’s topics selected.

A inaccuracies in the research. selected approach. • The explanations are inadequate and T

P • Poor use of elements of • Exhibit selection and placement is not understandable with obvious E argumentation/persuasion: logos, poor and/or incomplete. factual errors. C

C pathos, ethos. • The artifacts selected are not varied A • Fall into common persuasive pitfalls. and display little to no originality. N

U • Displays little planning on the part of the designers.

COLD WAR MUSEUM: THEMATIC ORGANIZATION

The organizational approach outlined below will serve as the basis for your investigation into the facts surrounding the Cold War. You and your partner should also review the CHRONOLOGIC and GEOGRAPHIC approaches and decide which organizational approach you will choose to base your museum's exhibits upon. The exhibits presented in your museum plan should closely follow the organizational approach that you have selected.

It is important to understand that the Cold War not only spanned several generations, it is also important to note that many themes and common threads were interconnecting the major events. This assignment is designed to allow you to explore the major events of the Cold War -with respect to the common themes they shared. The study of the Cold War's themes allows you, the student, to understand the importance and influence it has had on modern world history

Below is a list of themes and related topics that dominated the Cold War period.

Containment Arms Control

A. A. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty B. B. SALT I C. C. ABM Treaty D. Airlift D. SALT II E. NATO F. SEATO G. H. I. J. Bay of Pigs K. L.

Spread of - Collective Security

A. Poland A. NATO B. Berlin B. SEATO C. Hungary C. D. Nuclear weapons to Cuba

War By Proxy End of the Cold War

A. Greece and Turkey A. 1980's Military Spending B. Korea B. Strategic Defense Initiative C. Vietnam C. Michel Gorbachev D. Angola E. Afghanistan

Cold-War Competition:

A. Space Race B. Olympics C. Foreign Influence

COLD WAR MUSEUM: CHRONOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

The organizational approach outlined below will serve as the basis for your investigation into the facts surrounding the Cold War. You and your partner should also review the THEMATIC and GEOGRAPHIC approaches and decide which organizational approach you will choose to base your museum's exhibits upon. The exhibits presented in your museum plan should closely follow the organizational approach that you have selected.

It is important to understand that the Cold War not only spanned several presidential administrations, it is also important to note that it involved many aspects of U.S. foreign and domestic policies. This assignment is designed to allow you to explore the major events of the Cold War -with respect to the chronology in which they occurred. The study of the Cold War's development over time allows you, the student, to understand the importance and influence it has had on modern world history.

The Cold War spanned many decades of history. As a result, it transcended nine presidential administrations.

Below is a list of United States presidential administrations who contended with Cold War issues.

Harry S. Truman 1945-1953 Gerald R. Ford 1973*-1976

A. Truman Doctrine A. The fall of Vietnam B. Berlin Airlift B. Helsinki Accords C. Marshall Plan D. NATO E. Korean War F. Aids French in Indochina

Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-1961 James E. Carter 1976-1980

A. Korean War A. Angola B. Eisenhower Doctrine B. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan C. Aids French in Indochina C. SALT II * D. Establishes U.S. mission in Vietnam D. Détente Ends E. U-2 Flights

John F. Kennedy 1961-1963 * Ronald W. Reagan 1980-1988

A. Bay of Pigs A. Arms buildup B. U.S. 'advisors' to Vietnam B. Grenada C. Aid to India after Chinese invasion C. El Salvador D. D. Nicaragua E. Iran Contra Scandal F. Aid to Afghanistan G. Star Wars Technology (Strategic Defense Initiative)

Lyndon B. Johnson 1963*-1969 George H.W. Bush 1988-1992

A. Vietnam War Buildup A. is taken down B. Soviet domination of Easter Europe ends C. End of the Cold War

Richard M. Nixon 1969-1973* “NEUTRAL” P.O.V.

A. Nixon Doctrine (Chile) • From "" through the Korean War B. Vietnam War & bombing of Cambodia (1947-1953) C. Arms agreement 1. Seabed Treaty • Crisis and escalation (1953-1962) 2. ABM Treaty • From confrontation through détente (1962-1979) 3. SALT I • The "" (1979-1985) D. Détente • End of the Cold War (1985-1991) E. Ping Pong Diplomacy visit to China F. U.S. leaves Vietnam

COLD WAR MUSEUM: GEOGRAPHIC ORGANIZATION

The organizational approach outlined below will serve as the basis for your investigation into the facts surrounding the Cold War. You and your partner should also review the THEMATIC and CHRONOLOGICAL approaches and decide which organizational approach you will choose to base your museum's exhibits upon. The exhibits presented in your museum plan should closely follow the organizational approach that you have selected.

It is important to understand that the Cold War not only spanned several decades and several generations, it is also important to note that it involved all the earth's continents. This assignment is designed to allow you to explore the major events of the Cold War -with respect to the geographic region in which they occurred. The study of geopolitics allows you, the student, to understand the importance and influence geography has on world history.

Below is a list of the important geographic areas of the world over which the Cold War was "fought".

Eastern and Southern Europe The Indian Sub-continent

A. The division of Germany and Berlin into eastern and A. The Chinese takeover of Tibet western zone. B. The Chinese invasion of India 1. The establishment of Soviet Satellite states C. The '' 2. The '' D. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 3. NATO 4. Warsaw Pact 5. The Truman Doctrine 6. The Marshall Plan

Central and South America Africa

A. Castro in Cuba A. The communist takeover of Angola B. The Bay of Pigs C. The Cuban Missile Crisis D. The Nixon Doctrine 1. Chile E. The Reagan Doctrine 1. Grenada 2. El Salvador 3. Nicaragua a. Sandinista b. Contra c. Iran Contra Scandal d. Oliver North

Southeast Asia Outer-space

A. Korean War (northern Asia) A. Sputnik B. S.E.A.T.O. B. "The Space Race" C. ANZUS D. Korean War E. Vietnam War F. Cambodia (Kampuchea) and Laos

The Middle East

A. The Eisenhower Doctrine