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Battleship USS Wisconsin BB-64: Touring an Iowa Class U.S. Navy Ship

Here in the U.S., we have such a rich military history. We are so fortunate to have many military museums across the country that document history while preserving military artifacts. I recently toured the Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64), which sits in the harbor of Norfolk, VA and is part of the fantastic Nauticus maritime museum. This massive ship and its various crews served in three wars and was an absolute mechanical engineering marvel for its time. It was a very humbling experience to be on the battleship. I encourage you to take the time to visit the USS Wisconsin or one of its sister Iowa class battleships in your travels.

The USS Wisconsin is one of four Iowa class battleships that were built during World War II. Six battleships of this size and design were ordered by the U.S. Navy to be built during World War II, but luckily the war ended before the last two were completed.

All four of the Iowa class battleships are decommissioned by the Navy and are open to the public for tours. Here are their locations and links to learn more:

*USS Iowa (BB-61) is in Los Angeles, CA at the Battleship Iowa Museum and Pacific Battleship Center.

*USS New Jersey (BB-62) is in Camden, NJ, across the river from Philadelphia, at the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial.

*USS Missouri (BB-63) is in Pearl Harbor, HI at the Battleship Missouri Memorial.

*USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is in Norfolk, VA at the Nauticus Featuring the Battleship Wisconsin.

The USS Illinois and USS Kentucky were the other two Iowa class battleships that were begun but never completed due to the end of World War II. Their hulls were later scrapped in 1958.

History of the USS Wisconsin and Sister Iowa Class Battleships

USS Wisconsin Iowa class battleship — View of USS Wisconsin BB-64 battleship in Norfolk, VA.

So what was the big deal about the Iowa class battleships, including the USS Wisconsin?

According to Randall S. Shoker, who wrote the museum guidebook for the USS Wisconsin, by late 1937, the U.S. Navy caught wind that the Imperial Japanese Navy was building three super battleships. These battleships were estimated to be larger and more powerful than any ship in the US Navy fleet or even scheduled to be built.

Per the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936, the U.S, France and Great Britain requested that Japan not build any military ships over 35,000 tons. It became evident that the Imperial Japanese government was disregarding the treaty. As a result, the U.S. Navy went to work developing plans and designs for the 45,000 ton, 16-inch gun Iowa class battleships.

USS-Wisconsin_16 inch guns_forward deck — Close-up of three 16 inch gun bases gracing the deck of the USS Wisconsin.

The main purpose of the Iowa class battleships, including the USS Wisconsin, was to provide escort and protection to the aircraft carriers and smaller ships that made up the U.S. Navy presence in the Pacific Theater during World War II. As you step on board the USS Wisconsin or one of its sister ships, you will quickly realize these battleships were not to be messed with! These ships are massive, as are the guns gracing its deck. Even the anchors and anchor lines are huge.

USS Wisconsin_Bow of boat_anchor chains — View of the USS Wisconsin standing near the bow of the boat. Note the two huge anchor chains.

What is really interesting about the USS Wisconsin, was that it was commissioned for World War II, then decommissioned, reactivated for the Korean War, decommissioned again, then reactivated for Operation Desert Storm in 1991, with its final decommissioning in 2006. The strength of the ship and its immense firing power from its 16-inch guns, were still useful almost 30 years later after the ship was built. We had a friend who served on the USS Wisconsin in Operation Desert Storm who said there was nothing like those huge guns going off! The guns have a 23 nautical mile range.

Touring the USS Wisconsin and Sister Ships

USS Wisconsin_Battleship_Tour_sign — Welcome sign for USS Wisconsin battleship tour.

Each of the battleships offers self-guided tours as well as VIP scheduled tours. I highly recommend taking at least one of the VIP scheduled tours. They are totally worth the extra cost. Often led by retired US Navy Veterans, you will learn a ton not only about the ship but also about how people lived and worked on the ship. And the veterans are full of stories from their own naval experiences. They also share stories from people who served on the ship and who have come back as civilians to share their own memories.

Top of USS Wisconsin_Radar_Equipment — The USS Wisconsin and other Iowa class battleships were updated in the 1980s to have modern radar and missile systems.

On the USS Wisconsin, I toured the main sections of the battleship first. Most people do this by following the self-guided ship map and signs. I was fortunate to be part of a private tour group and event fundraiser, which inspired me to come back to do additional tours. You can wander around the main deck, and then go below to see everything from the ship’s chapel and dental clinic, to the enlisted men’s living quarters, offices, machine shop and mess hall.

Throughout the ship, you will see military posters and bits of artwork graffiti adorning the walls created by various sailors throughout the years. Wandering around the ship really gives you an idea of how big the USS Wisconsin is, yet how cramped it must have been when operating with a full crew.

16 inch guns_USS Wisconsin — Note how large the 16 inch guns are in comparison to the students standing by them.

Guided Command and Control Tour

Conning Deck view toward Bow on USS Wisconsin — View from the Conning Deck of the USS Wisconsin facing the bow of the battleship and downtown Norfolk, VA.

Next, I took the VIP Guided Command and Control tour. This included climbing up and down four stories of the ship on original, really narrow metal ladders. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. You will also be walking over grates, climbing through hatches and trying not to bump into things. Your legs may or may not forgive you after this ship-wide adventure!

USS Wisconsin_Machine_shop — The USS Wisconsin was almost completely self-sufficient while out to sea. If any gears or equipment broke, new ones could be built in the Machine Shop.

The tour takes you through officer quarters, including that of the Admiral and Captain, which are interesting to compare to the cramped quarters of the enlisted men. You will be impressed by the Combat Engagement Center. This is where the action of the ship was plotted, planned and acted upon. While the room is filled with part World War II and Korean War components, the space was also updated with modern equipment such as computers and radar in the mid-1980s. You will listen to an impressive “live” combat situation while parts of the room light up to help you understand who makes decisions when and how an operation would proceed.

USS Wisconsin Iowa class battleship Combat Engagement room — Combat Engagement Center on the USS Wisconsin with 1991 state of the art radar and missile control technology.

Next, you will then be taken up to the bridge and conning tower, where there is an amazing view over the front of the ship. The flag bridge was where the captain often spent his time. Then the pilot tower sits on the deck above the flag bridge. I also enjoyed seeing the central part of the pilot tower, known as the armored conning tower. The conning tower is the chamber from which the ship was actually steered. Three sailors were literally locked into the room for the duration of their shifts. The room was circular and reinforced by over 17 inches of steel. The idea was that the room could withstand bomb impacts from enemy fire, so the sailors could keep navigating the ship regardless of what else was happening elsewhere on the ship.

USS Wisconsin Navigation Room Iowa class battleships — Navigation Room: Sailors were trained in both high tech and traditional navigation techniques.

Finally, the tour concludes with a visit to the areas where Operation Desert Storm era Tomahawk missiles once inhabited the ship. The Wisconsin held eight box launchers on one of its upper decks. These boxes contained a total of 32 Tomahawk cruise missiles. These missiles worked on a precision system and could hit a target up to 675 miles away. Some of the box launchers and the tracks they worked on are still intact on the ship.

Tomahawk missile launch box_USS_Wisconsin_1991_Desert_Storm — An example of a Tomahawk missile launch box used in 1991 Desert Storm on the deck of the USS Wisconsin.

Guided Engine Room Tour

Steam system diagram_USS Wisconsin_engineering — This diagram shows the engineering behind the four identical steam systems that drove the USS Wisconsin forward.

The next tour I took was into the bowels of the USS Wisconsin on the Guided Engine Room Tour. I know very little about electrical and mechanics, but all I could think during this tour, was Wow! What an amazing feat of engineering. The Iowa class battleships were built to be sleek and fast. The ships operated on steam and could cruise through the water at up to 33 knots. They also held so much gasoline (over 2.5 million gallons of fuel) that they could refuel smaller ships in the Navy fleet while at sea. This was a huge advantage at the time.

The USS Wisconsin and other Iowa class battleships were fast because they were operated by 4 identical competing boiler systems. Each fire room contained 2 oil-burning boilers, a total of 8. The boilers were manually managed, creating steam to power the ship. The ship was then managed and driven forward by 4 massive propellers.

Our guide shared a 3-D video with us in one of the fire rooms, where a sailor takes you through the process he uses to light the boiler and then monitor its heat and steam production. Depending on commands from other parts of the ship, such as how fast to sail, sailors in the engine rooms would manually adjust the boilers and steam production. If it was “Full sail ahead!” our guide said the four-engine room teams would often compete with each other to see how fast and accurately they could get their part of the ship operating.

USS-Wisconsin_Fire_Room_Boiler — An example of a lit boiler in one of four Fire Rooms aboard the USS Wisconsin.

The Engine Room tour was fascinating. Once again, get ready to traipse all over the ship, mostly climbing to the lower decks. Everywhere you turn there are electrical lines, pipes, valves, and gears. You will wander through “Broadway” the main corridors that run the length of the ship on both sides.

USS_Wisconsin_Broadway_running length of ship — “Broadway” ran the length of both sides of the USS Wisconsin. Note all the chamber doors that could be closed during combat operations.

Also, you will visit the Machine Shop, where any valve or part for the ship that breaks could be recreated onsite. Then, you will then scoot down some very steep ladders and across grates to see the boilers, walls of fire room gauges, turbo generators, steam turbines and the propeller shafts. Again, you will have that feeling like you are going to bump your head on beams or back into gauges or pipes. It is a true reality check when you think that during its lifetime, up to 2,800 men lived and worked on the USS Wisconsin at any given time!

USS Wisconsin_Engine_Room_Gauges — Manually monitored gauges in one of the four engine rooms on the USS Wisconsin.

While someone who studied engineering or electricity will really enjoy the details of what they are looking at, the USS Wisconsin Engine Room tour is still very eye-opening. The equipment to run the Iowa class ships was massive! You walk away imagining how hard (and hot!) the work was for sailors to run these ships 24/7. And I am thoroughly amazed that the USS Wisconsin was used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. While it had many upgrades in its radar, missile defense and electronic systems up top, the reality was the manual engine operations propelling the boat were much the same as they were in World War II and the Korean War.

USS-Wisconsin_example_gears_valves_Mechanical_engineering — The USS Wisconsin and sister Iowa class battleships were true feats of mechanical engineering. This is an example of typical gears and valves used to manage the ship.

I encourage you to visit the USS Wisconsin at the Nauticus museum in Norfolk, VA and its sister Iowa class battleships in New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. As one middle school student from Ontario, Canada who I happened to meet while standing at the bow of the boat looking back at the whole of the ship, exclaimed, “This is AWESOME!” I had to laugh at his enthusiasm, (He’s a future engineer, for sure!), but also had to agree setting foot on the USS Wisconsin is an impressive experience.

Happy Adventuring!

Love military history? You may also like this travel review on the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA.

Why You Should Visit the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia

by BravelyBohemian

If ever roadtrip through Western Virginia along the I-81 corridor, be sure to take some time to visit the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VIrginia.

Today marks the 73rd anniversary of D-Day. June 6, 1944 was the day in World War II when thousands of Allied troops landed on the harsh beaches of Normandy, France to begin taking Europe back from the Nazis. This massive undertaking, the largest invasion in history, involved over 150,000 troops, 5,000 ships and 11,000 aircraft, plus months of planning, preparation and secrecy. It also took immense bravery for young men, most between the ages of 18 and 25, to land on the now 5 famous beaches- Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword- to forge ahead under intense Axis gun fire and to climb the Normandy cliffs. Allied casualties were high, estimated in the 10,000 range, with over 4,400 dead in just the first day of fighting. These men fought for our freedom and way of life. We must never forget their dedication and sacrifice.

That being said, I encourage you to visit the National D-Day Memorial, tucked amongst the hills and mountains of Bedford, Virginia. I have been there many times. Each time, I am humbled, learn something new and come away with a feeling of peace. Many Veterans of all eras and operations, World War II to the present, have reported feeling a sense of calm and healing after visiting the Memorial.

National D-Day Memorial Bedford, VA — Overview of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia

The National D-Day Memorial was the vision of D-Day veteran, J. Robert “Bob” Slaughter. He was concerned that there were no national monuments recognizing the efforts and sacrifices of World War II GIs, let alone those who participated in D-Day. There were no central locations for World War II vets and their families to go to reflect and heal. In the mid-1990s he began lobbying for such a place to be built, and Bedford, Virginia was eventually selected as the final location for the D-Day Memorial. The massive undertaking was finally dedicated in 2001, and despite having approval from the U.S. Congress to build such a monument, the National D-Day Memorial was completely paid for by private funds and continues to operate solely on private donations.

Rainbow over Necrology Wall at National D-Day Memorial — A Rainbow shines over the National D-Day Necrology Wall listing the names of the Allies who lost their lives on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

As you tour through the Memorial, you are taken on a journey from the planning stages of what we now know as Operation Overlord. You come to better understand the strength it took to get through the months of immense preparations, from the gathering of Allied troops and supplies from 12 countries to the eventual crossing of the English Channel in harsh, rainy conditions on June 6, 1944. You symbolically experience the battle itself on the beaches and climb the cliffs of Normandy to a point of victory, remembrance, and reflection on all that was lost and all that was gained in the name of freedom.

National D-Day Memorial Sculpture_Bedford, VA — Sculpture at National D-Day Memorial that honors the fallen soldiers of D-Day. Many people leave momentos on this sculpture including the Purple Heart we happened upon.

The staff and volunteers have many stories of special moments at the Memorial. I remember the first time I toured the National D-Day Memorial. We were accompanied by a D-Day Veteran, one of the “Bedford Boys” who came through Jun 6th unscathed while his twin brother was killed. I also remember on my first visit to the memorial coming upon the Overlord Arch and seeing someone anonymously left their Purple Heart medal on the sculpture that memorializes the fallen soldiers of D-Day. It just about brought all of us to tears. To this day, the staff has no record or backstory on who left the Purple Heart or why. Other stories mention a spouse, who lost the love of her life on D-Day, coming to the memorial looking for healing after all these years, veterans of all wars grieving and then cleansing their souls of their wartime experiences, even an elderly German man who participated in D-Day on the Axis side who came to honor those he killed and to say he was sorry.

Double Rainbow over National D-Day Memorial_Bedford, VA — A Double Rainbow forming over the National D-Day Memorial during my visit in March.

The humanity that comes out of such stories is touching and beautiful. It’s what keeps me returning to the Memorial. And I encourage you to make the trek and experience the National D-Day Memorial for yourself. You will be glad you did.

To plan your trip to the National D-Day Memorial, learn more, or make a donation, click here!

6 Ways to Celebrate the Day of the Dead

by BravelyBohemian

The Mexican Holiday, Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is becoming more and more popular around the world. The Day of the Dead is typically celebrated on November 1 and 2, just after Halloween in the United States. Day of the Dead costumes and decorations can now be found in most stores mixed right in with Halloween costumes. So before the 2 holidays blur any further, let’s take a look at what the Day of the Dead celebration is all about.

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Halloween vs. Day of the Dead

In the U.S, we are used to spooky graveyards, where unsettled spirits haunt anyone who comes near. But in most cultures, people celebrate the dead in a more positive light. In fact, even in the U.S. during Victorian times, most families spent their Sundays in cemeteries picnicking near the graves of their loved ones. That’s why so many cemeteries are designed with park-like surroundings.

The Day of the Dead is a positive celebration, a way to honor ancestors. Día de Muertos is hundreds of years old, with its origins most likely coming from Aztec ritual. It is believed that once a year, ancestors come back for 2 days to spend time with their families. To honor their presence, people decorate their ancestors’ graves, build beautiful altars in their honor and cook their favorite foods. Celebrations also include parties and parades. The Day of the Dead is a holiday that is colorful in every way!

dia-de-los-muertos-skeleton_with_marigolds

How to Celebrate the Day of the Dead

Want to get into the spirit of the Day of the Dead and honor your ancestors? Here is how to get your Día de Muertos celebrations started:

1. Put Together a Colorful Day of the Dead Altar (Ofrenda)

In Mexico, people usually decorate family gravesites and often create an altar, or ofrenda, in their homes to honor their ancestors. Altars like the one in the photo above can be elaborate works of art or simple and very personal. Start by finding a location in your home for your altar, such as a corner table, desk or fireplace mantle. Add a colorful tablecloth or table runner. Next, add photos of the person or people you want to honor. To get into the Mexican Spirit, you may want to place your photos in beautifully crafted tile frames like these. Then place personal items that were owned by your relatives in their lifetime on the altar. Or use items that make you think of your family members.

Next, place Day of the Dead decorations like marigolds, skull figures and paper banners on your altar. We will discuss how to make these items or where to buy them below. Some people also add their ancestors’ favorite foods and drinks to their altar to encourage their spirits to stay near. And finally, candles and incense make great additions to your altar.

If you have more time to be crafty, check out the directions for making this Day of the Dead Carved Pumpkin Altar at Michael’s. The altar is made out of the fake carvable pumpkins, so you can use the altar year after year. Or if you enjoy getting a bit messy with pumpkin guts and/or paint, you can use real pumpkins and create a perishable masterpiece.

2. Decorate with Paper Banners (Papel Picado)

Papel Picado, or specially cut Mexican paper banners, are a festive way to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Traditionally Papel Picado are intricately created by Mexican artists. With a little bit of practice, simple paper banners are easy to make. You can also find free printables such as this one from LiveColorful.com. Make sure to have bright colored paper on hand or markers to color in the designs.

Want to purchase Papel Picado for your altar or Day of the Dead party? Affordable paper or plastic banners are available on Amazon.com in a variety of sizes and colors.

Day of the Dead Marigold Flowers and Petals

3. Celebrate with Marigolds (Cempasúchiles)

Look how gorgeous this fountain looks decked out in orange Marigold flowers and petals. Marigolds, or Cempasúchiles, are the main flower used in decorating for Day of the Dead. You can grow your own to add to your altar, though beware, Marigolds have a very strong odor if you are using them indoors. Many people also use paper Marigolds. You can purchase paper Marigolds in orange and yellow from a party supplier.

Paper Marigolds are also really easy to make. We like the directions on this tutorial from Tinkerlab.com.

4. Decorate with Sugar Skulls (Calaveras)

Sugar Skulls, known as calaveras in Spanish, have become an essential part of Day of the Dead celebrations. Decorated skulls, literally made out of pressed sugar, are placed on altars to represent the ancestors being honored. Of course, you can now find Day of the Dead skulls made in all sorts of materials which are fun to collect. Check out these Sugar Skulls to get your collection started.

If you are interested to making real sugar skulls, we suggest using the directions and sugar molds from MexicanSugarSkulls.com.

We also love this do-it-yourself sugar skull painting kit, which makes a great gift.

5. Dress to Impress (Disfraces)

Day of the Dead is your opportunity to dress up in stylish skeleton costumes, or disfraces. Check out these great costumes for men and women at Amazon.com. Many qualify for 2-Day Shipping with your Amazon Prime membership. And don’t forget to pick up a Day of the Dead makeup kit.

If you know how to sew, Simplicity offers a beautiful sewing pattern for DIY Women’s Day of the Dead costumes.

6. Host a Traditional Day of the Dead Party Instead of a Halloween Party (Día de la fiesta de muertos)

Hosting a Day of the Dead party, known as Día de la fiesta de muertos in Spanish, is both fun and educational for your guests. You can find lots of fun Day of the Dead party supplies at your favorite retailer or make your own.

Encourage your guests to come dressed as Day of the Dead skeletons. Ask guests to bring photos and favorite mementos to honor their ancestors. Create a community Day of the Dead altar and ask guests to add their mementos to it. Ask your guests to share stories about the relatives they are honoring. Explain the traditions on the Day of the Dead and encourage guests to take part in activities such as painting or carving sugar skulls on pumpkins, face painting and making paper marigolds. Serve popular Day of the Dead treats and drinks. Here are some great recipes to get you started.

More than anything, surround yourself with colors and enjoy this very festive holiday in a way your ancestors would appreciate!

dayoftheddead_skull_marigolds-1775697_960_720

How We Landed on the Show: Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour

by BravelyBohemian

Have you watched Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour yet?

Random things happen to us, often when we travel. We’re “those people” who can be in an airport halfway across the country and run into someone we know. So imagine our surprise the day we crossed paths with Ozzy Osbourne, his son, Jack, and the History Channel film crew! It even resulted in 5 seconds of fame in the first episode of Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour that aired this Summer. #OzzyAndJack

Ozzy and Jack's World Detour banner

About Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour

In the show, Ozzy and Jack road trip around North America (with diversions to Japan and Cuba). They visit famous historic sites and add their own unique flavor to history. The show’s quirkiness mixed with Jack and Ozzy’s off-color British humor draw you in. And, when you are totally not paying attention, you learn quite a bit you probably didn’t know about the past.

Cannibalism at Jamestown?

So in episode 1 of Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour, Like Forefathers, Like Sons, the road trip begins in Jamestown, Virginia. Jamestown is the site of the first (barely) successful British colony in North America. The colonists picked a pretty lousy location with unhealthy water. They had trouble farming the land. They quickly pissed off each other and the local native Indian tribes. Their hopes of quickly finding gold and other precious metals to send back to England were dashed. Somehow, the colonists hung in there, despite several years of rampant disease, winter starvation, internal political issues and fighting with the Indians. They eventually expanded up the James River, forming towns such as Williamsburg.

Recent archaeology digs at the original Jamestown fort have helped researchers understand just how difficult those first years of colonization were. Sometimes terrible choices were made just to survive. And evidence shows that at least one instance of cannibalism took place. This instance of cannibalism is what fascinates Ozzy the most, so he and Jack are determined to get to the bottom of what happened.

Crossing Paths with Ozzy and Jack

Meanwhile, Al and I happened to be in town on the day of filming. We had just finished attending the annual Virginia Association of Museums Conference at Williamsburg and decided to spend a few extra days exploring Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown.
We were wandering around the grounds of Jamestown Fort looking at the archaeology digs, when I noticed someone getting a private tour. Now I am a total museum junkie and LOVE history. My favorite way to explore a place is to be toured through it. I even mentioned to Al, “Wonder how he got a private tour?” No matter, I had been to Jamestown before. It was hot, late in the afternoon and we were feeling a bit bedraggled. So we wandered off to the museum and then did some damage in the gift shop.

Somehow, the guy on the private tour got ahead of us. So as we wandered down the boardwalk (the fort is still surrounded by swamp) back to the main entrance and parking lot, we noticed an entourage coming toward us: 2 guys in front, several cameramen, sound people and other crew. Hey! And the private tour guy was the lead cameraman!

Ozzy and Jack's World Detour_season 1_episode 1_Jamestown

While I was identifying the cameraman, Al immediately recognized Ozzy and Jack. So as we approached, Al tipped his hat and casually said, “Big fan!” Ozzy responded at the same time by saying, “Triangle hat.” (Al was wearing a tricorn hat and round colonial sunglasses we bought at Williamsburg).

And the clip made the show with us starring as random, tired, bedraggled tourists. Go figure we are in the cannibalism episode!
#OzzyAndJack

See the Episodes and Learn More about Jamestown Colony

To see all the hilarious episodes of Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour, visit History.com.

To learn more about the Jamestown colony and the archaeology dig at the original fort, check out these links, books and films:

*Visit Historic Jamestowne, location of the original fort.
*Visit Jamestown Settlement, a recreation of life in the early 17th century Jamestown colony.

How to Get into the Steampunk Style Craze

by BravelyBohemian

A few years ago, we received a call from an old friend asking my husband and me to be in a Steampunk fashion show. I quickly made a face and said, “A Steam what now?!”

Al is a huge sci-fi junkie, so he was a little more up on the Steampunk movement than I was. He told me to go read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne and watch the Sherlock movies to understand Steampunk style. AND he said this was an excuse to wear Victorian costumes. DONE! I was a go.

What is Steampunk?
Steampunk is a creative alternative reality stemming from the Victorian era when steam engines were powering much of the industrial world. What if electricity was never developed and steam power continued to dominate? What would our daily reality be like? Then add in some extra science fiction, Hollywood effects, cosplay adventure and over-the-top costumes and you’ve got the Steampunk genre down.

steampunk_ak

Here are some hints for getting started in Steampunk:

1. Join a local Steampunk Club
Most communities have Steampunk social clubs or have Cosplay or Science Fiction groups that have Steampunk members. Our group (called Temporal Entities of Syracuse or TEOS) was originally a Dr. Who Club that spun off in the steampunk direction. Many groups have events such as monthly dinner gatherings (in costume), a yearly steampunk ball, gear swap weekends, dates to work on costumes, parades, fashion shows, conventions and Victorian street festivals.

steampunk_roc_ball

2. Connect Online
There are tremendous forums, websites, Facebook groups where you can virtually connect with other Steampunkers. There are tons of tutorials to help you create your costumes, accessories, and characters. Pinning ideas on Pinterest is a great way to also get ideas.

3. Develop Your Steampunk Character
Do you have a favorite character in literature or the movies? Or a historical person you admire? With some ingenuity, almost any character can be “steampunked.” Or start by researching Victorian-era costumes, plus the culture of the 1880s in Europe or in the U.S. What scientific and industrial advancements were taking place? What political issues were occurring at the time? Start with a person and then develop a story around them. Who are they? What’s their personality like? What do they do for a living? What do they struggle with? What inspires them?

steampunkball-in-rochester-2-8-14

4. Visit Your Local Thrift Shop
The thrift shop is a great place to start to put together your first Steampunk costume. While ready-made Steampunk Halloween costumes are available and great if you need an outfit on short notice, most Steampunkers like to create their own unique style.

For men, look for striped or corduroy pants, collarless dress shirts, vests, boots, and sports coats you can doctor. Also look for leather coats and bomber jackets.

For Women, look for long flowing skirts, Victorian-style blouses with high necks and puffy sleeves, flowing gypsy-style blouses, tight-fitting tops with corset seams, vests, boots and leather coats.

For both, look for belts, jewelry and leather handbags that can be repurposed as Steampunk accessories. You may want to check the knickknack and electronics sections for items you can also repurpose such as small glass bottles, wood boxes, old clocks with gears, etc.

5. Purchase Steampunk Accessory Essentials

It is worth the money to purchase certain essential parts of your Steampunk costume. These include a quality wool top hat or derby hat, goggles, leather gloves and comfortable boots if you plan to go to a lot of events or conventions. Women may want to invest in a quality made corset and men may want to invest in a proper waistcoat or tailcoat.

6. Get Out Your Sewing Machine and Glue Gun
Simplicity and McCall’s have produced several great Steampunk costume sewing patterns for men and women if you want to make a costume from scratch. If you don’t sew, then you may want to go the thrift shop route or make fast friends with someone in your club who can help you. If you are willing to invest, many talented artists sell elaborate Steampunk costumes and accessories on Etsy. Also check eBay and Amazon regularly for Steampunk related items. As a Steampunker, you will find there are many things you can make for your character. Besides a sewing machine, antiquing paint and your glue gun may become your favorite go-to tools!

7. Have Fun!
Steampunk is all about an imagined alternate reality. There is no right or wrong. Keep evolving your character and your Steampunk costume will evolve as well. Fully embrace your character when in costume and remember to take photos!

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