Navy Museum Hosts Girls Make History Day

By Lt. Laura K. Stegherr, Diversity Directorate Public Affairs

June 30, 2010 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- History came alive for nearly 800 children who attended the second annual Girls Make History Day celebration at the U.S. Navy Museum June 26.

The event, based on the popular American Girl product line, explored U.S. history and naval heritage through the stories of the nine American Girl characters who "lived" during significant periods in U.S. history, including colonial America, the American Expansion, the Civil War, World War I the Great Depression and World War II.

"The success of today's Navy can largely be attributed to the diversity of its Sailors. Girls Make History Day shows not only the importance of this diversity, but also the importance of history and how it is still relevant in our lives today," said retired Rear Adm. Jay DeLoach, Naval History director. "This event is an excellent way for us to reach out to the American people and for them to learn more about their Navy."

The event featured eleven hands-on activity stations throughout the museum. Each was uniquely paired with an American Girl character and was designed to stimulate the children's interest in naval history and science and technology.

According to Laura Hockensmith, deputy director of Education and Public Programs at the museum, the activities played a special role in teaching children about maritime culture.

"From our standpoint, naval history is American history. So, a lot of the [American] Girls do have a tie to a specific war or era," said Hockensmith.

For instance, American Girl "Samantha" whose story was set in the early 20th century, would have lived during the sailing of the Great White Fleet. Other activities were similarly designed to correspond with other American Girl characters. For example, children could learn more about the life of American Girl Molly, who lived through World War II, by creating ration recipe books and victory gardens and by writing letters to service members deployed overseas.

Two of the American Girl series authors, Valerie Tripp and Jackie Greene, also attended the event to meet with the children and sign autographs. Additionally, children had the chance to enter to win one of three full size and three miniature American Girl dolls.

More than 40 women and men in uniform were on hand to guide the activities and share their individual experiences with the children, who were primarily young girls.

Karin Hill, the museum's Director of Education and Public Programs, explained the important role this participation played in shaping the total force of tomorrow.

"I think the Sailors volunteering for Girls Make History Day played a critical role in the success of the overall event," said Hill. "We are trying to showcase the careers for women in the Department of Defense, the Navy and the Marine Corps, and we want our young ladies to understand that there are so many opportunities for them, especially in science and technology jobs."

"All of our volunteers in uniform are so enthusiastic that they're giving our young ladies really good insight into what it's like to work for the US Navy," said Hill.