Yes, the sentry box was wonderful! Also I very much liked seeing Vanka's elaborate and very colorful tack from the King of Italy. I wonder if Newark found a small model burro or donkey to display Vanka's tack, as did Santa Fe?
Sure, it would have been nice to see a few more items of clothing, but all the same we did see Tatiana's regiment uniform, a cloak used by Nicholas, a tea dress or two of Alexandra's, plus quite a bit more that I can't document right now because I don't have the catalog beside me.
I agree with Lisa that those of us who can should support this exhibit. Consider that all these wonderful items have come to the United States, saving many of us the trouble of having to arrange a passport, hotel accomodations, a transAtlantic flight, etc. Also, consider that for one year those of us in the United States have the opportunity to see some of the fabulous items that might one day might permanently return to the palace!
Now that my memory has been jogged, I'll add that I was fascinated by a clock that Nicholas kept in his study. And of course the clock that Alexei apparently assembled from a kit (no doubt with some supervision from Gilliard, Gibbes, or one of his sailor nurses!) was also delightful.
Perhaps my favorite item was a leather-working kit owned by the grand duchesses. As a vegetarian, I'm not sure why a leather-working kit would appeal to me . . . perhaps because it illustrated that beyond being royal, they were first and foremost children, and interested in the same sort of artsy-craftsy things that you and I begged our parents to buy for us! Yes, there were glamorous, sometimes eye-popping items on display. But the charm of many of the artifacts lay in the fact that they had once been part of a "cosy" home.
If I'd had more time in Santa Fe, I would have returned for at least two more visits. Because I've found that once acquainted with an exhibit, the experience is enhanced by seeing how others react to what's on display!
