St. Charles Heritage Museum

Showing how the land has changed

We combined elevation data with historic imagery and placed the Missouri River in its historic position. The vertical scale is exaggerated three times so subtle landforms stand out, turning a change across time into something visitors can see and compare.

The horizontal and vertical scales serve different purposes. The plan scale places the historic river within the wider landscape, while the threefold vertical exaggeration makes low relief easier to see. That exaggeration should be understood when comparing heights with distances. Combining historic imagery with elevation information gives the museum a physical reference for discussing a river position that differs from the landscape visitors know today.

A historic landscape at two related scales

The 3 × 6 foot model uses a horizontal scale of 1 inch = 600 feet. Its height is exaggerated three times relative to that scale. A 600 foot horizontal distance therefore occupies one model inch, while a 600 foot change in elevation would occupy three inches. That distinction helps explain both the model’s appearance and the information a visitor can take from it.

Making the historical reference explicit

The Missouri River is shown in its historic position. The model combines historical imagery and elevation information, so it should be read as an interpretation of a particular landscape and period. For a museum planning a similar display, identify the date represented by the river, roads or settlements and distinguish those sources from the elevation data used for the land.

Relief that supports the exhibit story

Low relief can become difficult to see when a large landscape is reduced to display size. The threefold exaggeration makes the landforms more visible, while the horizontal scale preserves the wider setting. A label explaining the two scales helps visitors understand that choice. Our scale and vertical exaggeration guide and museum model planning guide discuss these decisions for a new exhibit.