Delaware Museum of Natural History to Celebrate 40th Anniversary
The Delaware Museum of Natural History will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on May 13, 2012. As part of the celebration, the Museum will roll back admission prices to rates that harken back to 1972: $1 for adults, seniors, and children.A retrospective exhibition chronicling the Museum's history will also be on display.
When the Museum opened in 1972, it was the first natural history museum to be built in the nation since 1910. Since then, visitors have enjoyed exploring the wonders of the natural world through interactive exhibits and detailed dioramas depicting animal specimens in their natural habitats. From two, life-sized, Asian dinosaurs in the center of the Hall of Birds to a Tyrannosaurus rex skull and a walk-over recreation of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Museum's exhibits span time and space to educate and inform visitors about nature and science.
The Museum also boasts some of the largest collections in the country, including a collection of more than 2,000,000 mollusks - one of the top 12 mollusk collections in the United States - and over 119,000 specimens of birds in 4,000 different species, 66,000 study skins, 11,000 skeletons, and 6,000 fluid-preserved specimens.
"We're thrilled to invite the public to help us celebrate our 40th Anniversary," said Executive Director Halsey Spruance. "Seeing the expression on a young visitor's face as they gaze at a life-sized dinosaur skeleton or walk over our coral reef, you can't help but be amazed at how special this place really is."
As part of the 40th Anniversary celebration, the Museum will display objects related to its history, including a 1981 letter and photos from then-Senator Joe Biden, following a visit with fellow senator and former astronaut, John Glenn. Specimens from the Museum's collections as well as displays on exhibits, educational outreach, and the people that have made the Museum so successful over the years will highlight this exhibition.
The Museum is encouraging everyone to discover, or re-discover, the excitement and wonder a trip to the Museum can bring and help celebrate 40 years of exploration and discovery.
WHAT: Delaware Museum of Natural History's 40th Anniversary
WHERE: Delaware Museum of Natural History, 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807
DATE: Sunday, May 13, 2012
HOURS: Monday- Saturday 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 12-4:30 p.m.
ADMISSION: $1 for adults, seniors, and children (3-17), FREE for children 3 and younger. FREE for museum members.
MORE INFO: Visit www.delmnh.org or call (302) 658-9111
