Tag Archives: Museum of Discovery

Museum of Discovery Summer Fun Extravaganza

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As people begin to start the summer season, the Museum of Discovery wraps up its Summer Fun Extravaganza event Today. Visitors will learn the science behind some of the most popular summertime activities.

As museum-goers arrive, they will be greeted by an extensive shell and coral display. The experience will continue in each of the three science galleries as specific exhibits will be featured to show how they relate to the summer season. Discovery cart demonstrations will be presented throughout the day relating to the ocean, like why one can hear its waves in a seashell. Also, sunblock protection will be emphasized as ultraviolet rays and their harmful effects will be examined.

Additional programming will focus on the science of air pressure as a pvc pipe ball launcher will serve as a make-shift water squirter, and a marshmallow shooter. There will even be a few surprises with bubbles.

“Summer is in a word – fun!” smiled Nan Selz, executive director for the museum. “Whether it’s boating on one of Arkansas’s beautiful lakes, spending time at the pool, or heading to the beach, we like to soak up as much fun as we can in a few short months. But our favorite past times can teach us a lot about science,” she added.

Discovery Cart Demonstrations:
10 am; 12 pm; 2 pm; 4 pm

Discovery Court Programs:
11 am; 1 pm; 3 pm

On Sunday at the museum, Dads will get in free for Father’s Day.

Architeaser June 5

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Yesterday’s Architeaser was four animals which are over the door of the main entrance to the Museum Center building. Two of them were winged griffin-like animals with scaled tails while the other two are large cats such as jaguars. Built as a railroad terminal in 1927, it later served as the press building for the Arkansas Democrat. In 1998, a $12 million adaptive reuse was completed. The building is now home to restaurants, offices and the namesake Museum of Discovery.

Here is today’s Architeaser.

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Museum of Discovery offers free admission to active military

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Earlier this month, the Museum of Discovery announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,500 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from May 29 through Labor Day 2012. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

“As a Blue Star Museum member, we have the opportunity to honor our active military families this summer with free admission,” said Nan Selz, executive director for the Museum of Discovery. “We welcome many military personnel and their children to our science center each year. In an effort to show our gratitude for their service, we’re able to offer them a unique and fun family experience.” NOTE: While the museum will be closed May 25-28 for Riverfest, its recognition program will begin Tuesday, May 29 and run through Labor Day, September 3.

“Through Blue Star Museums, the arts community is extending a special invitation to military families to enjoy over 1,500 museums this summer,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “This is both an opportunity to thank military families for their service and sacrifice, as well as a chance to create connections between museums and these families that will continue throughout the year. Especially for families with limited time together, those on a limited budget, and ones that have to relocate frequently, Blue Star Museums offers an opportunity to enjoy one another and become more fully integrated into a community.”

“As we enter the third consecutive year of the Blue Star Museums program, we are happy provide an opportunity for our nation’s service members and their families to connect with our national treasures,” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Through this distinctive collaboration between Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts and more than 1,500 museums across the United States, military families have an unparalleled opportunity to visit some of the country’s finest museums for free.”

This year, more than 1,500 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative, including more than 300 new museums this year. Museums are welcome to join Blue Star Museums throughout the summer. The effort to recruit museums has involved the partnership efforts of the American Association of Museums, the Association of Art Museum Directors, the Association of Children’s Museums, the American Association of State and Local History, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers. This year’s Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers, and 70 children’s museums. Among this year’s new participants are the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar in Richmond, Virginia, the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, NM, the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland, Ohio, the Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco, California, the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, and the World Figure Skating Museum & Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

About Blue Star Museums

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,500 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 28, 2012 through Labor Day, September 3, 2012. The free admission program is available to active-duty military and their family members (military ID holder and up to five family members). Active duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and active duty National Guard and active duty Reserve members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning. Museums that wish to participate in Blue Star Museums may contact bluestarmuseums@arts.gov, or Wendy Clark at 202-682-5451.

 

About the Museum of Discovery

Established in 1927, the Museum of Discovery is Little Rock’s oldest museum. Following its closing and a 10-month renovation, the Museum of Discovery re-opened in January 2012. It is central Arkansas’s leading informal educational resource in areas of science, technology, math and engineering. The museum’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.

Scenes from 2012 DinoDash

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Last Saturday the Museum of Discovery hosted Dino Dash and Discovery Fest in the River Market district.  Here are a few scenes from the event which drew families from all over Central Arkansas.

Architeaser May 18

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Yesterday’s Architeaser was one of the crests near the top of the Museum Center building in the River Market. Built as a railroad terminal in 1927, it later served as the press building for the Arkansas Democrat. In 1998, a $12 million adaptive reuse was completed. The building is now home to restaurants, offices and the namesake Museum of Discovery. This weekend it will be the headquarters for the museum’s annual Dino Dash.

Here is today’s Architeaser. It may be the only silver-gilt crest in Little Rock.

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13th Annual Dino Dash this weekend

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This Saturday, the 13th annual Museum of Discovery Dino Dash & Discovery Fest, will take place in Little Rock’s River Market District. Dino Dash is a 5K walk/run for ages 5 years and older, and a 1K Family Fun Run for all ages. All proceeds benefit the Museum of Discovery’s many educational programs.

Dino Dash participants can register online at www.museumofdiscovery.org . Fees are $25/individual or $20/team member until May 18, and $30 on race day. Race registration includes a fully supported race with police coverage and a safe route, a 2012 Dino Dash t-shirt and goody bag (while supplies last), and free admission to the Museum on race day, a street festival with games, entertainment, exhibits and refreshments. The 5K begins at 8:00 a.m. and the1K begins at 9:00 a.m. Both races begin and end in the River Market District near the Museum of Discovery at 3rd and Sherman. Prizes are awarded to top three finishers in 5K age groups and all 1K participants age 1-10 receive a medal and a dinosaur prize.

“We’re looking forward to showing off the museum this year, since we were closed in 2011. It will allow Dino Dash participants the opportunity to visit our newly renovated science center,” said Nan Selz, executive director for the museum.

For those who don’t race, the museum’s Discovery Fest is free and open to the public. It will be held from 7:30 – 10:30 a.m. in front of the museum, and will feature hands-on science activities, refreshments and entertainment.

Also returning are the prizes, which will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in each 5K division courtesy in part by Go! Running. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 boy and the top 3 girl finishers in the 1K courtesy of the Sachar Family. All 1K finishers ages 1-10 will receive a medal and dino prize. The largest school team wins a pizza party at the Museum. The largest non-school team wins a free Museum rental (for up to 2 hours). Prizes will be awarded to the top two pushers in the three-wheeled stroller division. Stroller Division entrants are not eligible for division awards.

2012 Dino Dash sponsors include: Bancorp South; Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield; Arkansas Children’s Hospital; Janet and Glenn Davis; Melody and Chris Piazza; Legacy Termite and Pest Control; Arkansas Pediatric Clinic; First Security Bank; Go! Running; Little Rock Athletic Club; Allied Technologies Group LLC; New York Life/Chad and Missy Franks; Notre Dame Alumni Group; the Shue Family; the Sachar Family; Premier Refreshment Services; Crich Design House; Custom XM; and Coca-Cola.

Established in 1927, the Museum of Discovery is Little Rock’s oldest museum. Following its 2011 closing and a 10-month renovation, the Museum of Discovery re-opened in January 2012. It is central Arkansas’s leading informal educational resource in areas of science, technology, engineering and math. The museum’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.

MOD gets Buggy

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Creepy, crawly critters will be the name of the game at the Museum of Discovery May 10-12, 2012 as educators host the annual three-day Bug Out! event, providing visitors the opportunity to learn about insects and the world of entomology.

Jane Jones-Schulz, Education & Information Coordinator for the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, will conduct presentations on tarantulas native to Arkansas and rare and endangered invertebrates that can be seen both in The Natural State and other parts of the United States.

Museum visitors will get to view a live insect collection, learn of the dangers of mosquitoes, the benefits of bees and more. If live bugs aren’t suitable for some, people can build electronic crawlers in the museum’s tinkering studio, and take their “bugbots” home.

The Museum of Discovery has many educational offerings for people of all ages, including three permanent galleries focused on physical, health and earth sciences. The Earth Journeys gallery allows visitors to explore some of our planet’s unique inhabitants, several of which will be highlighted in the three-day event.

Bug Out! Demonstrations and Showtimes:

Thursday, May 10: 10 am; 12 pm; 2 pm

Friday, May 11: 10 am; 12 pm; 2 pm

Saturday, May 12: 11:30 am; 1 pm; 3 pm

Established in 1927, the Museum of Discovery is Little Rock’s oldest museum. Following its 2011 closing and a 10-month renovation, the Museum of Discovery re-opened in January 2012. It is central Arkansas’s leading informal educational resource in areas of science, technology, engineering and math. The museum’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.