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continuity0 t1_j5rpceq wrote

Sure did, went about 15 feet up and back, and when I worked there in the early '90s, a tape would play with some generic steam engine sounds and narrated details about the train. The tape was so badly worn and stretched, it was almost unintelligible, so some of us had the more interesting facts memorized for when people asked about what was being said.

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There also used to be a bunch of photographs of the train being installed before construction of the museum was completed. Last time I was there, I asked what happened to them but nobody seemed to know.

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(Edit: addit'l facts)

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ebbycalvinlaloosh t1_j5s16uf wrote

Hey I worked there in the early 90s too!!! It was my first job. I worked for a summer in guest services and floated around to different posts. I have this core memory of napping on one of the big leather couches in the break room area!

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ksquad80 t1_j5sc1ej wrote

We slept in the rotunda for a camp trip when I was a kid.

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Gabagoo44 t1_j5sf304 wrote

I did this also and a mouse ran right by me at 3am, couldn’t sleep the rest of the night Lmao.

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continuity0 t1_j5si3hj wrote

I chaperoned a camp-in my kids took part in a few years ago, couldn't sleep at all so I roamed the museum most of the night, and met up with more than a few mice, even one making its way up the main stairwell.. But that's life in the city.

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rovinchick t1_j5sjtwu wrote

Crap, I slept over there in 2020 right before the pandemic hit and now my skin is crawling thinking about mice running past me. 😂 They still haven't brought back the sleepover since then, even though other museums have, including the Academy of Natural Science. When I asked why, they said they didn't have enough employees to run them, but at $60/head times hundred of kids and chaperones, it seems like it was a profitable endeavour and would be worth finding a few more employees, even if they had to pay them a bit more. Heck, they may even be able to recruit volunteers to run them like the Battleship NJ and Adventure Aquarium do. 🤷

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voteforbk t1_j5tip5w wrote

The Franklin Institute laid off a far higher percentage of its staff than any other local museum. They laid off something like 2/3 of the staff at the end of March 2020, before any federal loans kicked in. There was a second round in June that year. There might not be anyone left who was involved in that Camp-In program in any capacity. They may have to rebuild it completely.

Also, that place is like the most mouse-infested in the city. A huge old structure that hosts hundreds of elementary schoolers every day who snack all throughout the building.

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rovinchick t1_j5tj830 wrote

Letting museum space sit any empty instead of generating revenue seems like poor management at this point. My kids loved that sleepover so much, we ended up purchasing a family membership right afterwards. They also haven't brought back their summer camp program, which I'm sure was a profitable program.

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voteforbk t1_j5tjn31 wrote

What can I say? It is poorly managed.

That said, I think the summer camp management were the same folks who ran the overnight camp, so you’d have to rebuild that as well.

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NotUnstoned t1_j5vdlno wrote

I stayed there twice when I was a kid. Once was in the train room, I forget where the other time. I definitely took the opportunity to explore the whole museum while it was closed though lol.

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continuity0 t1_j5shrmo wrote

Nice! I was there summers, winter breaks and sometimes spring breaks '91-'95, so it's pretty likely we crossed paths at some point. I was a demonstrator and worked the occasional camp-in weekend.

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orion3311 t1_j5vb4jm wrote

If any of you 90s guys/gals have pics of the futures center Id LOVE to see them!!

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justasque t1_j5s6pl3 wrote

I loved those photos! I mean, “how the heck did this thing get here” is a pretty reasonable question once you see the train, and the photos really gave you an understanding of how much of a monumental undertaking it was. I also miss the math exhibit room that was n one of the upper floors. It was quietly interesting, which was rather nice.

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oliver_babish t1_j5tiszm wrote

A room which seemed to have The Dot and the Line playing in constant loop.

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orion3311 t1_j5vbdls wrote

They still have them but i think they're all the way st the end of the room where the wall opened up.

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starcom_magnate t1_j5t8leg wrote

We were there in 2022 for the Harry Potter exhibit and the pictures of them bringing in the train were there.

You had to go all the way past the train to the back wall, and they were just kind of thrown in that area. Shame, too, as it is a really interesting story and the pictures are great.

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horsebatterystaple99 t1_j5tdjh4 wrote

Yes!!! Used to take my kid there back in the day. We had a membership. I always kept the train room until last. It was impossible to get him to leave there.

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KFCConspiracy t1_j6bn9v8 wrote

I remember seeing it in the 90s when I was a kid and the terrible tape now that you mention it.

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