One of the jewels of the University of Michigan's diverse museum and gallery system, the Exhibit Museum of Natural History is presenting two special programs during the first weekend in December.
Dinosaur Discovery Day will take place on Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and will encompass all four museum floors. The whole family can take part in activities that include a fossil dig and a dinosaur puppet show, with special guests on hand to help attendees learn more about paleontology. The State Street Area Association is sponsoring the event.
The following day, Sunday, December 6, from 2-4 p.m., So You Want to Buy a Telescope? will offer a primer on what to look for when making your first telescope purchase. The University Lowbrow Astronomers, an amateur astronomy club based in Ann Arbor, will assist guests and answer questions. The workshop is free, but due to limited space, pre-registration is required. Call 734-647-1381.
Among the many facilities that comprise the University of Michigan's impressive collection of museums and galleries, the Exhibit Museum remains a classic example of how to simultaneously educate and entertain adults and children alike. Visitors encounter towering skeletons of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, information-rich displays centered on the state of Michigan’s diverse wildlife, a Planetarium that features magnificent presentations about the Universe, and more. The museum also makes available rooms for kids' birthday parties. While attendance is free, membership and donations are suggested, in order to continue the mission of this vital U-M facility, which hosts approximately 70,000-80,000 guests annually, including some 20,000 school children.
What also helps set apart this space from other museums is that visitors, especially youngsters, are encouraged to touch the bones, rocks, animal furs, and other display items, and to direct questions to its expert staff, which includes dozens of U-M student docents, in order to make the experience complete. The Exhibit Museum, located at 1109 Geddes Avenue, is open to the public more than 350 days each year, Monday-Saturday, 9-5, and Sunday, 12-5. For more information, call 734-764-0478.
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