Exhibition Docent Handbook - Museum on Main Street

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BUILDING THESOUTHERN BORDEROriginally made of stone markers andcast-iron obelisks, the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border runs from the PacificOcean to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1935,about 90 miles of fence, both chainlink and barbed wire, were built westof El Paso, Texas. In 2005, a steel fencedefines a portion of SouthernCalifornia’s border with Mexico. Therest of the southern line is markedby obelisks and by barbed-wire fencesthat contain cattle. Much of thesouthern line runs through the forbiddingSonoran desert and is activelymonitored by U.S. border patrol agents.THINK ABOUT ITHave visitors look at the chain-link fence and theobelisk beyond it. Ask them to think about whatthey know about border issues with Mexico andCanada and how those issues are reflected inAmerica’s borders with these neighbors.
Postcard of the border between Sonora, Mexico,and Nogales, ArizonaLET’S TALK• Take a look at the image showing the borderbetween Sonora, Mexico, and Nogales, Arizona.Historically, what do you think was the majorissue concerning the Mexican border? (Answer: fearof cattle disease.) What about today?• How do think the fenced areas of the border affectthe relationship between the United States andMexico? Do you think the relationship is differentin areas where the border is marked with onlyobelisks or stone markers? Why or why not?• Do you think installing a fence along the entireborder, as proposed in 1947, is reasonable?Do you think there are other ways to handle illegalimmigration, trade and agriculture issues, illegaldrug problems, and possible terrorist threats?How would you advise the federal governmentto approach these border issues?• How would go about inspecting this national border?How often do you think inspection would benecessary? Who do you think should be responsiblefor monitoring the border? The government?Security companies? Private citizens?Mexican border; International Boundary and Water Commission,United States and Mexico, U.S. Section
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Page 3 and 4: Welcome to BETWEEN FENCES and thank
Page 5 and 6: THINK ABOUT ITHave your visitors en
Page 7 and 8: Chicken & Egg Public Projects, Inc.
Page 9 and 10: THINK ABOUT ITEncourage your visito
Page 11 and 12: • Match the sliding front-yard fe
Page 13 and 14: LET’S TALK• Does The Leedom Far
Page 15 and 16: Rail pile near Circleville, Ohio, 1
Page 17 and 18: THINK ABOUT ITAsk your visitors to
Page 19 and 20: THINK ABOUT ITEncourage your visito
Page 21 and 22: LET’S TALK• In 1860, only seven
Page 23 and 24: • Do you think livestock should h
Page 25 and 26: LET’S TALK• What do you think
Page 27 and 28: Spite fence, Lanesboro, Minnesota,
Page 29: THINK ABOUT ITAs they explore both
Page 33 and 34: Photographs from Farm and Fence <st
Page 35: As representatives of the museum, d

Exhibition Docent Handbook - Museum on Main Street

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