Classic Children's Novel by Lewis Carroll is Brought to Life in this Three-dimensional Exhibit

The Hall of Doors and Mirrors resembles a Victorian-style hall complete with a black and white checkerboard floor, plus a surprise behind every door. The hall includes various doors and objects of different scales, all of which deal with perception, Open one door and see an illusion of a whole tart that magically changes when the door is closed and reopened. Another door reveals a never-ending Victorian hallway. Guests may took into a telescoping mirror that makes their bodies look stacked like a telescope or view the miniature Queen's garden by opening a tiny door. To "enter" the garden, guests must push and pull another mirror that changes from concave to convex to make them appear smaller or larger. The handle that manipulates this mirror is the "drink me" bottle from which Alice drinks a special potion that makes her small enough to fit through the door leading to the Queen's garden. Once guests are "small" enough to fit through the door, they look up and see they have forgotten the key to the garden, which is sitting on top of the table above them. Both the table and key are oversized to give guests the perception that they have actually shrunk. Quotes from the book serve as a guide through this area.

Guests who cry too much about not being able to enter the garden, like Alice, will find themselves swimming in the Pool of Tears, This riverbank-like scene features a "pool" made from blue plastic strips hung from the ceiling. Special lighting effects give the illusion of waves and shimmering water. Each guest may "swim" through the pool amidst a variety of animals. Parents and children may like to count the feet of the many animals swimming above them. Children will discover how different animals swim by engaging handles on a fish tank featuring an iguana, mouse and duck. After your swim, "The best thing to get us dry is a caucus  race." So says the Dodo, who will prompt guests to peddle or crank a tricycle to start the famous caucus race. Engaging the tricycle will start the images of animals chasing each other as well as start a fan to dry off the wet racers. At the end of the race, the Dodo will say, "The race is over, everyone has won."

The best thing to do after a caucus race is to play a game of croquet. That is what guests may do when they enter the Queen's Courtyard. This large area features the famous croquet game that Alice played with the King and Queen, complete with two flamingo-head sticks, "hedgehog" balls, and playing card wickets. Children may "paint" a rosebush from white to red to appease the Queen of Hearts. Once all of tile roses are painted red, the Queen's face will turn from red to white and she will say, "That's right, can you play croquet?" Guests may play many games and puzzles in the Courtyard.

Also in this area is the Queen's Court and Castle. Children may sit on the King and Queen's throne and interview witnesses from the trial of "Who Stole the Tarts?" while their parents pretend they are the jury by animating stationary hand puppets in the jury box. A small performance area and costumes of several of the characters are available so guests may role play portions of Alice . . . Guests may get an elevated view of the entire exhibit by climbing up one of the turrets, usually reserved for the Queen's guards. They will also find the answer to the Who Stole the Tarts? puzzle in this area.

After a visit with the Queen, guests may get silly again at the Mad Tea Party which features life-size recreations of the Mad Hatter and March Hare. Six guests may sit at the table at once. A tea set is also located underneath the table for those mad guests who find sitting at a table cliché. A variety of clocks, everything from a sundial to a stopwatch, hang on one of the walls. If guests move the hands of the grandfather clock., a book next to the clock will light a panel that shows illustrations from a child's day.

While sipping their tea, guests may also admire some of the beautiful collections pieces generously loaned to Please Touch Museum by Germantown resident Kitty Minehart. Minehart, a member of the Lewis Carroll Society, has been collecting Alice .. memorabilia for over 25 years and has a collection of several hundred artifacts. Some of her pieces that guests will see at Please Touch include tea sets, holiday ornaments, figurines, puppets, and a clock.

Several games and puzzles may be played throughout the exhibit including, Who Stole the Tarts? This single puzzle runs throughout the exhibit and encourages a playful game of seek and find. Riddles and puzzles offer fun ways to play with words, allowing guests to experience the essence of Alice . . ..