Luminaries throughout history made an appearance Wednesday at Peterson Elementary School in Kalispell.

Representing eras from 384 B.C. to the present day, the likes of Aristotle to modern-day professional surfer Bethany Hamilton were represented by Peterson fifth-graders at the school’s annual wax museum history project.

Dressed up as historical figures, students stood still until visitors pushed buttons created by each student. When a button was pushed, the “wax figures” came alive to talk about the birth, education, life and death of their figures.

Fifth-graders in Kari Peiffer’s and Kelli Turner’s classes took six weeks to select a figure from a provided list, research the person, write an essay and memorize a first-person script to recite to museum visitors.

Turner estimates the wax museum project had been going on for about 15 years. It was started by former teachers Andy Young and Peg Stadler.

“We have scientists, we have artists, we have athletes, so they kind of just choose somebody we feel has made a contribution to society,” Turner said.  “If there’s someone that’s not on the list, they can write a letter and appeal to us why they want to be that character.”

Throughout the morning, the museum bustled with activity as kindergarten- through fourth-grade classes toured the museum.

Dressed in a smart suit, layers of pearl necklaces, leather gloves and a black hat, fifth-grader Skyleigh Thompson channeled French fashion designer and business entrepreneur Coco Chanel.

Thompson described how Chanel freed women from the constraints of structured and layered dresses with her revolutionizing and functional designs, opening her first millinery shop around 1910.

“When I was your age, I never knew that I would make a mark in history. You can, too, if you have persistence and stamina” Thompson said while acting as Chanel. “And always remember — if luxury isn’t comfortable it isn’t luxury at all.”

Thompson said she wanted to portray someone she didn’t know much about.

“I learned she had a pretty rough life. Her mom died when she was 6 and she went to live with sister in an orphanage,” Thompson said.

And regarding fashion, Thompson learned that through fashion, Chanel made it possible for women to participate in more activities.

“Back in the day when women wore those big dresses, she made dresses that were comfortable, that women could work in,” Thompson said. “Also she kind of made pants for women.”  

Nearby was polish-born French physicist and chemist Marie Curie, portrayed by Shelbie Guckenberg holding an X-ray. Curie was famous for her work with radioactivity and development of X-rays.

“I was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, furthermore I was the only woman to win a Nobel Prize in two different fields — physics and chemistry,” Guckenberg said in her role as Curie.

The wax museum is a tradition with her siblings.

Guckenberg was dressed in a costume her sister, who now attends Flathead High School, had worn when she was a Peterson fifth-grader and portrayed Molly Pitcher. Guckenberg said her younger brother also will participate in the wax museum in a few years when he reaches fifth grade.

Curie was Guckenberg’s first choice for the museum project. At first, Guckenberg didn’t know much about Curie, only that she was involved in science. As part of her display, Guckenberg brought in a few test tubes from her personal science kit.

“I am very, very interested in science and I think of her as a great role model,” Guckenberg said.

Next to Guckenberg stood Sophia Kolosov, holding up a small painting to represent western painter and sculptor Charles Marion Russell, who moved to Montana at 16.

One third-grader pushed the button at her station and Kolosov began spouting interesting facts about the cowboy artist whose works are still displayed in museums around Montana.

“I love art,” Kolosov said.

Across the way stood inventor and founding father Benjamin Franklin, portrayed by Blade Bernau who had just finished giving his speech to a few third graders.

“Thank you for listening and if you ever need to find me I’ll be on the $100 bill,” Bernau said passing out pretend $100 bills featuring Franklin’s portrait and notable facts about Franklin on the back.

“He invented lots of things that I never knew, like the odometer,” Bernau said.

American documentary photographer Margaret Bourke-White was also at the wax museum portrayed by Faith Cheff.

“She was the first woman photographer allowed to accompany a combat mission,” Cheff said. “I was impressed by how good her pictures were. She had a lot of action shots.”

Wearing a button-up sweater and glasses, Drew Speer depicted one of his favorite authors, Roald Dahl. Speer said he wanted to portray more than one figure.

“I wanted to be everybody. My first choice was Daniel Boone because I’m an outdoorsman. I wanted to be Michael Jordan, Shaun White — who else — and I wanted to be John F. Kennedy but all my choices were taken,” Speer said. “I saw Roald Dahl, oh he’s my favorite author. I’ll pick him. He wrote some famous books and all his books are my favorite. He’s my favorite author and he had an exciting life.”

All of the students said the best part of the project was learning and sharing about the lives of interesting people.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.