Exhibit at Cincinnati Museum Center showcases partnership with Northern Kentucky University
CINCINNATI – Ever wonder what someone could learn by going through the items in your bathroom? What does your toothbrush say about your dental hygiene? Our archaeologists and teams have excavated local privy sites dating from the late 1800s and starting February 1, Medicine, Marbles and Mayhem: Unearthed Stories from 19th-Century Privies will showcase the unique items found during their excavations.
Get a snapshot of what life was like for locals in the 1800s-from artifacts like dishware and medicine bottles to children’s toys and discarded clothing. Learn the stories behind the artifacts through accompanying public records, including newspapers, city directories, census records and more.
One segment, The Policeman and The Privy, tells the story of Charles Dustin, a policeman whose uniform, gun and ammunition were discovered in a local privy site dating from 1899-1920. No one knows the exact reason why Dustin dumped his gear down the privy, but records provide context to his story, which includes arrests, time in jail and a stint in a local mental facility. Learn more about his story and others’ in this free exhibit, running through May 26.
Medicine, Marbles and Mayhem is a collaborative effort between Northern Kentucky University (NKU) Masters of Public History and anthropology students and Cincinnati Museum Center. NKU students helped to design, curate and execute the exhibit. The artifacts on display were excavated by George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology Bob Genheimer and teams.
Medicine, Marbles and Mayhem opens Feb. 1 in our Ruthven Gallery. Free.
For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org