Out of this World: The Real Story behind the “A Peep at the Moon” Bandbox

February 26^th @ 2pm, PCAE Auditorium

Join chief curator Kory Rogers as he explores the fantastical, but true story behind one of his most beloved objects in all of Shelburne Museum’s collection, the “A Peep at the Moon” bandbox. An early example of “fake news,” the bandbox’s decorative paper covering depicts scenes from “The Great Moon Hoax” perpetrated by New York City’s Sun newspaper in 1835. Published in six-parts, the series of articles tell the tale of the English astronomer Sir John Herschel’s earth-shattering discovery of extraterrestrial life on the moon, shocking believers and infuriating scientific communities around the world.  Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required. https://out-of-this-world-cc.eventbrite.com