Preview the Miniature Dutch Village	Introduction
			While educational budgets diminish, demands for relevancy of field trip destinations increase. It is the purpose of this Pella Historical Society Curriculum Pack to help teachers of any level coordinate a visit to the Pella Historical Society into one or more areas of their curriculum.
		Miniature Dutch Village
			The Miniature Dutch Village gives students a glimpse into nineteenth-century Holland. Dolls dressed in period clothing work, play and socialize amidst picturesque seventeenth and eighteenth century buildings and structures. City, town, and rural scenes are depicted showing various activities and seasons. With a slight change in costume and street accessories, and of course technological advances, this miniature village could easily represent the Netherlands today. With a lack of land for new development and the solid architecture of years past, the landscape of much of the Netherlands has changed only slightly from the scenes depicted in this diorama. In addition to providing a look into Dutch daily life, this miniature village also gives visitors insight into Pella's efforts to maintain and promote its ethnic heritage. The energy used to create, preserve, and interpret this diorama show the connection many residents of Pella still maintain with their ethnic roots. Like many fine examples of ethnic folk art found around the United States, this miniature village reminds the visitor that even though residents of Pella today are thoroughly American, they are still proud of their Dutch heritage.
		History of the Miniature Village
			In the 1890's, George Heeren and a friend immigrated to the United States from their homes in the northern part of the Netherlands. George worked as a skilled carpenter and architect in Chicago before moving to Pella in 1900 where he set up shop as a cabinetmaker. In 1935, the Pella Chamber of Commerce wanted to hold a tulip festival, but few citizens had planted tulips the previous autumn. George eagerly offered his carpentry skills to help Pella promote its Dutch heritage. Soon he had cut out and painted thirty-six, four-foot high wooden tulips to "plant" around the community during the festival. After the success of the first "Tulip Time," Heeren envisioned a miniature Dutch village to be a part of the annual celebration. He started crafting it in 1936 along with his grandson Gysbert, and a helper John Van Vark. Later the industrial arts students from Pella High School and Central College helped add to the diorama they entitled, "A Day in Holland." Over the years many have helped carry on the work of George Heeren. Buildings have been added periodically and volunteers have painstakingly recreated costumes and interior scenes to enhance the growing village. For years this popular scene of Dutch life was only displayed at Tulip Time. Finally in 1976, the miniature village received a permanent home in the Pella Historical Society. It will eventually be moved to the new Welcome Center Windmill so even more people will have the opportunity to experience its charm.
		Things to Remember when visiting the Miniature Village
			Please keep your hands to yourself while walking through the village. Although it may seem very tempting to actually touch the miniatures, it is important to keep them in good shape for everyone else who wants to se them at another time. Each building took many hours and a whole lot of patience to create We are proud of the village and hope to be able to share it with many, many people in the future. There are many fun thing to look at within the Miniature Village. Even if you think you have seen everything already, chances are your tour guide or teacher will be able to find something special you did not see the first time. Maybe you can even challenge each other with a game of "I Spy" where someone describes something from the village that they want their partner to find. Look for a stork perched on top of a building. Look for a man jumping across the canal with a pole.