Harrisburg, PA – The State Museum of Pennsylvania today announced its program schedule for July 2018:
Museum Closure Wednesday, July 4
The State Museum will be closed for the holiday on Wednesday, July 4, and will reopen with regular hours on Thursday, July 5.
StoryTime: One Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova, Friday, July 6, 10:00 AM
The humorous story One Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova will be read to children in the Anthropology and Archaeology Gallery. Children can enjoy acting out the story afterward. A dugout canoe is on display for children to learn about its use and the tools used to make it. StoryTime is the museum’s popular reading series for children age three to five. Each reading is held in one of our galleries and is followed by a related play activity or exploration of related hands-on artifacts. StoryTime is included with general admission.
Artist Conversations, Friday, July 13, 12:15 PM
Pennsylvania First Lady Frances Wolf and artist Maria Maneos will lead a casual tour of the Art of the State exhibition, sharing their insights on the show. Maneo’s sculpture 5535-2017 is part of the exhibit. Art of the State is recognized as the official statewide juried competition for Pennsylvania artists. Jurors selected artwork from five categories: Craft, Painting, Photography, Sculpture and Work on Paper. The exhibit includes 103 works by 99 artists from 27 counties. The exhibit runs from June 24 through September 9, 2018. As part of Summer Fridays, general admission is pay as you wish.
Pay as You Wish Summer Fridays
The State Museum is inviting visitors to pay what they wish for general admission on Fridays beginning on Friday, June 22, and continuing through Friday, August 24, 2018. Fees for the Planetarium and other special programs will still apply. Curiosity Connection will distribute free timed tickets for entry throughout the day.
Learn at Lunchtime
Learn at Lunchtime is a program featuring a variety of captivating lectures and presentations. This summer Learn at Lunchtime will be presented every Friday at 12:15 PM, June 22 through August 24. Learn at Lunchtime is included with general admission.
Friday, July 6, 12:15 PM
Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary War Militia Records with the Pennsylvania State Archives
Friday, July 13, 12:15 PM
Artist Conversations: Art of the State Exhibit with Pennsylvania First Lady Frances Wolf and artist Maria Maneos
Friday, July 20, 12:15 PM
Peregrine Falcon Reintroduction Program with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Friday, July 27, 12:15 PM
Discover Pennsylvania Songbirds and Cavity-nesters with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks
Nature Lab/Meet the Experts
The State Museum of Pennsylvania will offer visitors the opportunity to engage with museum curators and representatives of various Pennsylvania state agencies through its Summer 2018 Nature Lab/Meet the Experts series. This program will be presented every Wednesday and Thursday at 11:30 AM, June 27 through August 16, and is included with general admission.
Thursday, July 5, 11:30 AM
Magnets with The State Museum’s Education Department
Wednesday, July 11 and 25, 11:30 AM
Pennsylvania Wildlife with Dr. Walter Meshaka, senior curator of zoology and botany
Thursday, July 12, 11:30 AM
Which One Doesn’t Belong? Native American Bone Tools with The State Museum’s Archaeology Section
Wednesday, July 18, 11:30 AM
Maps with The State Museum’s Education Department
Thursday, July 19, 11:30 AM
Who’s Diggin PA? with The State Museum’s Archaeology Section
Thursday, July 26, 11:30 AM
Archaeology and Toys through Time with The State Museum’s Archaeology Section
3rd in the Burg: Sip & See Art of the State Friday, July 20, 5:30 PM–7:30 PM
Refreshments will be available for patrons as they explore this year’s Art of the State exhibition. Art of the State is recognized as the official statewide juried competition for Pennsylvania artists. Jurors selected artwork from five categories: Craft, Painting, Photography, Sculpture and Work on Paper. The exhibit includes 103 works by 99 artists from 27 counties. The exhibit runs from June 24 through September 9, 2018.
Summer Reciprocal Membership with Susquehanna Art Museum, July 1–September 9, 2018
Members of the Susquehanna Art Museum and The State Museum of Pennsylvania will receive free reciprocal general admission to the two museums this summer, July 1 through September 9, 2018.
The Planetarium at The State Museum of Pennsylvania: The planetarium is offering three shows from July 1 through September 2:
Earth, Moon and Sun (Grades 1 through 5), Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11:00 AM; Saturday, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM; Sunday, 1:00 PM
Coyote has razor-sharp wit, but he’s a little confused about what he’s seeing in the sky. This production tackles many concepts associated with the Earth-Moon-Sun system, including eclipses, lunar phases, seasonal changes, and the physical nature of the Sun and the Moon.
Compass, Calendar and Clock (Grade 6 and up), Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 1:00 PM; Saturday, 12:00 Noon and 2:00 PM; Sunday, 2:00 PM
Understanding how the planet is aligned with the distant stars allows anyone to use the sky as a compass, a calendar, and a clock. This traditional show asks How can you use the Moon tell time? and How does the Sun help us find directions? See how mankind has used the sky to tell time, track yearly cycles, and find direction.
Planetarium shows are $3 per person in addition to general admission. Planetarium admission is free to members of the State Museum Affiliate and the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 24 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History. The State Museum offers expansive collections interpreting Pennsylvania’s fascinating heritage. With exhibits examining the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the colonial and revolutionary eras, a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the commonwealth's vast industrial age, The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania's story is America’s story.
Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Admission is $7 for adults (ages 12-64), $6 for senior citizens (ages 65 and up), and $5 for children (ages 1-11).
MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639