This is the 9th of 10 geocaches that I have hidden as part of my Capstone project for my Master of Liberal Arts degree. There are also 10 corresponding trackables being released at an event on 3/13/16 in Baltimore, MD that go along with these caches. Each trackable and cache signifies a course I took in the program. My goal is to share my experiences in each class and hope that you will also be inspired to share some of your experiences with this cache.
This was the perfect area for this cache since this class spent an afternoon here exploring the Evergreen Libraries and Museum. They have an extensive and fascinating rare and historic book collection. It didn’t hurt that our instructor also has his office in this building so we got an extra special tour. The museum is fascinating and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. Do yourself the favor and visit. Maybe not right now, but definitely when you have some time to spare.
In this class we explored how the transformation of technology revolutionized how information was spread. The whole class was taught directly from original rare book and manuscript materials. We started with cuneiform tablets and papyrus from the ancient world and worked our way through illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages and up through the invention of the printing press and how mass production of books was a total game changer when it came to literature and religion and the spread of ideas.
It was absolutely mind blowing to get to see and at times touch these original rare books. I mean, it’s not every day you get to casually pass ancient cuneiform tablets and papyrus around to your classmates. Oh, is that a piece of an original Gutenburg bible? Or perhaps an original section of The Book of Kells? And you get to touch it? Oh, no big deal. It was truly an amazing experience to get to touch and feel history.
I like to pair Revolutions of the Book with the trackables aspect of geocaching. Trackables are passed from cacher to cacher, much like books were passed from reader to reader. Some trackables are in a cacher's private permanent collection that they may let you discover during events. This is much like how the more expensive books that nobility owned were treated - as show pieces to be shared only in the event that there is company.
Do you have a favorite book? Perhaps one from history? I was always personally fond of illuminated manuscripts with their beautiful hand painted images.