The Dennis
and Phillip Ratner Museum
If your family has a special interest in Bible
stories, children’s literature, and/or arts and
crafts projects, be sure to visit Bethesda’s Ratner
Museum, established by two cousins: businessman
Dennis (founder of The Hair Cuttery) and sculptor
Phillip. After spending 13 years in Safad, Israel
creating the Israel Bible Museum, they decided to
produce a similar museum in this area. They believe
that both Jewish and non-Jewish people can benefit
from the lessons to be learned in the Hebrew Bible.
The museum truly fosters a love of the Bible through
the graphic arts. Sculptures of Old Testament are
the priamry focus, but there are also engaging
displays featuring children’s classical literature.
And don’t forget to check out the latest permanent
display of 10 of the 42 original Ellis Island
Models.
Before You Go
Make sure your children are familiar with Biblical
stories like Adam and Eve, Noah’s ark, David and
Goliath, and Moses and the Ten Commandments. Read
the stories to them and watch videos like “The
Prince of Egypt,” “Joseph: King of Dreams,” and the
Donny Osmond version of “Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Talk to them about some of
their other favorite stories. Have them draw their
own pictures or make their own sculptures showing
the characters they like best.
On the way there:
Ask them what makes someone a hero? Do heroes make
mistakes? Why do some stories remain important over
so many years? If you were going to make museum when
you grow up, what would be in it? What are your
favorite stories and why? Which stories do you think
would be the most fun to illustrate?
Once You Get There:
Begin with the main building. Pick up a directory of
the artwork at the front desk to carry with you as
you circle the room. See if the kids can guess which
stories each sculpture illustrates. Some (like the
burning bush) are obvious; others require a little
more attention. Ask the kids whether the sculptures
are supposed to look exactly like the characters in
the story or whether they are supposed to be more
about the sculptor’s feelings about what is going on
in the story. What does he exaggerate? What does he
leave out? Why did he pick the parts of the story he
did to illustrate instead of something else?
Then go outside and follow the driveway to the
smaller building, the Gallery for Children’s
Literature in Art. It is filled with imaginative and
whimsical sculptures illustrating classics:
Cinderella, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Little Red
Riding Hood, Rumplestiltskin, Jack and the
Beanstalk, and Beauty and the Beast. Ask kids to
tell you the stories, and let them tell you how
these depictions contrast with others they have seen
and with their own ideas about the characters. This
facility has materials for kids to create their own
works of art, so be sure to allow time for them to
complete their masterpieces. You might also want to
stock up on art supplies at home because this museum
will really inspire them to do more.
AT A GLANCE
10001 Old Georgetown Rd.
Bethesda, MD 20814
www.ratnermuseum.com
www.childrensartandliterature.com
Admission: Free
Time needed One to two hours
Food: None
Rest rooms: On site
Hours: Sundays 10-4:30, Monday through Thursday12-4
, closed Friday and Saturday.
Phone number: 301-897-1518
Tips on how to get there: From 495, exit onto Old
Georgetown Road. Go North toward Rockville for
approximately 1/4 of a mile. Turn Right on Lone Oak
Drive (East) and take an immediate left into the
first driveway. Proceed to the smaller building in
back. From 270, exit Old Georgetown Road (South). Go
South towards Bethesda for approximately 1 mile.
Turn left on Lone Oak Drive (East) and immediately
turn left into the first driveway. Proceed to the
smaller building in back.
Your kids will really like:
The Childrens’ Room where bibical projects created
by students of the museum on display. |
