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The Maryland Room is all about history.

As part of its historic venture, The Maryland Room encourages the revival of the fading art of diorama. There was a time, not long ago, when many types of museums relied on three dimensional models, dioramas, to depict scenes from nature and history. Dioramas were particularly important in natural history museums, allowing visitors to get within feet of exotic animals. Yes, they were dead and stuffed, but appeared alive due to the highest level of taxidermy; arranged in natural poses and placed in beautifully constructed settings resembling their natural habitats. It was the closest most would ever get to seeing a wildebeest, elephant, or tiger in the wild.

The first habitat diorama was designed by Carl Akeley in 1889 at the Milwaukee Public Museum depicting muskrats. Akeley went on to New York's American Museum of Natural History; his talents made it the premiere institution for habitat dioramas. The museum employed artists and adventurers who traveled the world obtaining specimens and investigating their environs. These dioramas still draw crowds of visitors.

Dioramas can be life-size, as is the case in natural history museums, or miniature, as was frequently the case in history and art museums.

The origins of dioramas are found in ancient times; many cultures created diminutive depictions of life. One example is the Japanese art of bonkei, the art of creating miniature landscapes in trays. This process began in the sixth century and is cousin to the more well-known art of developing bonsai trees.

In the 19th century another type of diorama was popular — a theatrical experience created by Louis Daguerre, the father of photography, in 1822. These dioramas consisted of very large sheets of linen. They measured 24-80 feet wide and 21-40 feet high. These sheets were nearly transparent and featured scenes painted on both front and back. People would view these linens from platforms that slowly rotated. Through the use of light and mirrors the scenes changed before one's eyes creating a "real world" experience.

HistoryIn2Art is a local business that creates dioramas.

Using dolls, miniature reproductions of historic equipment, and a great deal of research, Eve Walton and Katherine Boarman regularly interpret scenes from Maryland's history. They have constructed 14 different dioramas to occupy the display cases in the lobby of the C. Burr Artz Library with subjects ranging from antiquity to the 20th century.

Boarman and Walton specialize in creating dioramas depicting African American history. Currently on display are two scenes from the life of Harriet Tubman.

As museums attempt to involve their visitors more directly in sensory experiences, miniature dioramas are now frequently viewed as passé. They can, however, present a scene that will ignite the imagination, as is obvious to anyone who watches a group of children staring at the dioramas as they come and go at the library.

HistoryIn2Art's current diorama will remain on display until the end of July. While the floor does not rotate, and there are no taxidermy animals, The Maryland Room hopes you will stop by.

Mary K. Mannix manages the Maryland Room in the C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. For more information, call 301-600-1368.