I had a difficult time in elementary school. While I adored Ms. Franklin and Mrs. Cleary at School 5 (now Pattison County Office building), playing eraser tag for hours just didn't cut it for me. I had too many questions - especially related to science - but no one seemed to have the time to give me the answers.

My buddy Paul Klink and I made three choices each day. The first choice was whether to go to school at all. Second, if we could find, or "borrow," a dime from our mother's hiding places, we took the United Traction bus to the State Museum, located on the 5th floor of the State Education Building in Albany. More often than not we'd opt for the third choice, the no-travel option to the Junior Museum located in the basement of the Rensselaer County Historical Society on Second Street. The Junior Museum was a new approach in bringing museum education to kids. I suppose we were the guinea pigs.

In retrospect, it wasn't very big, but to an 8 year old it was huge and full of amazing adventures - and you could touch things. Ok, you weren't suppose to touch everything. I remember one particular day when they had the uniform of a child soldier of the Children's Crusade on display. I put on the armor and helmet and chased around this cute 7 year old blonde in what I pretended was a rescue mission. Lou, the director of the museum took me - and by now the screaming blonde - under his wing, and instead of tossing me out on my ear calmly explained the significance of the exhibit. It was the first time someone actually took the time to explain things. I made a habit of going to the museum many times after that.

Over the years, Paul and I found objects, a skull, or a sword, for example, and always brought them to Lou at the museum for identification. And while they turned out not to be the jaws of a saber tooth tiger or the sword of the Vikings landing in Troy, he would always calmly explain what they were and their significance. I can honestly state that my education in science was the product of spending countless hours at the Junior Museum and the NYS Museum and skipping school (don't show this column to your kids; on second thought, don't show it to MY kids).

The Junior Museum outgrew their space and eventually moved to the Munn House on Second Avenue in the Burgh. The new location didn't deter our visits. We walked or took the Fifth Avenue bus. The expanded museum had a colonial kitchen, a pharmacy, a loom, 19th century bicycles, and much more. Anyone remember the monkey on the porch? Funny, that young blonde was often there too!

In my sophomore year in college, majoring in science, I wanted to give back something to the museum in appreciation. I did an independent study project at the museum working for a year building exhibits and developed two mobile exhibits on Indian and Eskimo prehistory which I took around and demonstrated to local school classes. Todd and Linda Pulliam, the husband/wife directors, were simply great to work for and gave me a great deal of encouragement, just like Lou did 20 years earlier.

Like most stories, you grow up, move on, things change The museum moved again to 5th Ave and added live animals to their exhibits. During the 80's and until recently the museum seemed stagnant - nothing new - I'd seen it all before.

However, the pendulum has swung the other way. If you didn't know by now, the Junior Museum is now in a renovated RPI building, the old Winslow Lab. I was given a tour of the facility recently by Joe Herwick - Director of Education. The new three story museum has not given up their live animals, and the snakes, frogs, and other critters are doing well in their new space. The state of the art Lally planetarium is an exploration of the heavens and they have a new exhibit called the Molecularium.starting in November, which explores atoms, molecules and polymers. They are constructing a new Hudson River exhibit that will show in condensed form the natural history of the Hudson River Valley from Lake Tear of the Clouds to a tidal pool like those found in Jamaica Bay, including a real waterfall and live fish.

Certainly the new Junior Museum has begun the 21st century in style and substance. I'm confident it will continue innovative educational projects for all age groups, and especially answer questions from all those inquisitive 8 year old's.