One of the oldest exhibit halls at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) is filled with maritime curiosities from around the world, while a haunting, curious melody spills into the room from the speakers. PEM curators place contemporary art or music next to the older pieces from their collection. The goal of this is to make unique connections between the past and present by placing two unrelated things in context with each other.

Click on the video above to see more of the museum.

The museum began as a place for sea captains to store and share trinkets and curiosities from around the world. Over time, this collection grew to include rare artifacts from India, Japan, Korea, and American Indian tribes. For example, PEM houses one of the world's three remaining wooden carvings of the Hawaiian god of war and prosperity, Ku, a portrait of author Nathaniel Hawthorne, and a house moved brick-by-brick from China.

If the kids aren't as intrigued by the countless artifacts, the Ripple Effect exhibit is filled with exhibits that show off how water moves and works. As you enter the exhibit, a clear trough suspended above the room lets water trickle to a bucket at the end. A light shines through this casting a moving, liquid shadow on the ground.

Visit the Peabody Essex Museum website for more information.