Posts by Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis

Madeleine Muzdakis is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and a historian of early modern Britain & the Atlantic world. She holds a BA in History and Mathematics from Brown University and an MA in European & Russian Studies from Yale University. Madeleine has worked in archives and museums for years with a particular focus on photography and arts education. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, film photography, and studying law while cuddling with her cat Georgia.
Toys
July 26, 2023

Barbie Dolls That Traveled to Space Are Now on Exhibit at the Smithsonian

This Barbie is an astronaut. This Barbie is a scientist. This Barbie is a Smithsonian star. “Barbie goes to space” is a story which began in 1965, when Miss Astronaut debuted. This earliest space Barbie was actually a space outfit to be added to existing dolls, but it was remarkably timely—released only two years after the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova.

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History
July 12, 2023

Longyou Caves: The Ancient Chinese Caves You’ve Never Heard Of

In 1992, farmers near the village of Shiyan Beicun in Zhejiang province, China, were considering several ponds on their lane. They decided to drain them, but beneath the water lay a mystery. Draining the water revealed five stone caves, strangely crafted. This shocking discovery led to unearthing 19 more caverns. With 24 in total, these carved out spaces range in size and shape.

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History
July 11, 2023

This 16th-Century Manual Is the First English Guide on ’The Art of Swimming’

How did you learn to swim? Chances are your parents signed you up for swim classes at the local pool, or perhaps your grandpa took the old fashioned, ill-advised route of tossing you straight in to learn by necessity. Swimming is something that is often learned by doing rather than reading, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, this practical skill has been immortalized in text.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.