Harrisburg, PA – The State Museum of Pennsylvania today announced its program schedule for September 2019:
Archaeology at Kipona, Saturday, August 31 – Monday, September 2, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
State Museum archaeology staff will be on hand at the Kipona celebration on Harrisburg's City Island, where they will feature the popular dugout canoe and discuss the archaeology of the island. The event is free to the public.
Archaeology at Fort Hunter, Weekdays, September 4 – October 4
The State Museum archaeology section will conduct its annual excavation at Fort Hunter Mansion & Park. This year they will focus on the north side of the mansion where there is a deposit of late 18th-century and early 19th-century artifacts, probably associated with the McAllister occupation, and below it are stratified Indian occupations. The public is welcome to visit and meet the on-site archaeologists on weekdays between 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM, weather permitting. Fort Hunter Mansion & Park is located at 5300 North Front Street in Harrisburg.
StoryTime: Because of an Acorn, Friday, September 6, 10:30 AM
The children's book Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer will be read in the museum's Ecology Hall. Young visitors will learn about seed dispersal by playing a seed matching game after the story. StoryTime is the museum's popular reading series for children aged 3 to 5 and is included with general admission.
Art of the State Exhibit Closing
Art of the State, recognized as the official statewide juried competition for Pennsylvania artists, will close on September 8. Jurors selected artwork from five categories: craft, painting, photography, sculpture and work on paper. The 52nd exhibit includes 110 works of art by 103 artists from 35 counties. Finalists were selected from 2,170 entries. Art of the State is presented by The State Museum of Pennsylvania in association with the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation. The media sponsor is WITF Public Media. The exhibit is included with general admission.
Final events for Art of the State will be held on September 6 and 8.
Learn at Lunchtime: Art of the State, Friday, September 6, 11 AM – 1 PM
The museum's art docents will lead a tour of the 52nd annual Art of the State exhibition. The tour is included with general admission.
Gallery Walk, Sunday, September 8, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
The museum will participate in the 31st Annual Gallery Walk with other Harrisburg organizations. Museum hours will be extended for this event. General admission is free for the day. Gallery Walk coincides with the last day to view the Art of The State exhibition.
Artist Conversations, Sunday, September 8, 2:00 PM
Fine Arts Curator Amy Hammond and artist Sanh Tran will lead a casual tour of Art of the State, sharing insights on the show. Tran's piece is part of this year's show and won first prize in the photography category and is also one of The State Museum's Purchase Prize winners.
Curiosity Kids: Tinkering Minds, Thursday, September 12, 11:30 AM
Young visitors will use their imagination and a tinkering box filled with found materials to create whatever comes to mind. Curiosity Kids is a program that bridges the fun of Curiosity Connection with the wonders of The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Museum educators guide parents and their children aged 3 to 6 on fascinating trips through history. Hands-on experiments in science and art offer enlightening views of the world. Curiosity Kids is funded in part by a grant from the Joseph T. and Helen M. Simpson Foundation.
3rd in the Burg: Archaeology at Fort Hunter, September 20, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Dr. Kurt Carr, State Museum senior curator of archaeology, will discuss this year's Fort Hunter archaeological excavation as well as archaeology at the site over the past 10 years. This event will be held at Fort Hunter Mansion & Park, 5300 North Front Street, Harrisburg.
Nature Lab: Ruffed Grouse and Wild Turkey, Thursday, September 26, 11:30 AM
Museum educators will discuss the wild turkey and Pennsylvania's state bird, the ruffed grouse, focusing on how they have adapted to their environment in the state. This program is included with general admission.
The Planetarium at The State Museum of Pennsylvania: The planetarium is offering two shows from September 4 through December 1.
Star Stories of the Native Americans (Grade 2 and up)
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11:00 AM; Saturday, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM; Sunday, 1:00 PM
This traditionally styled show explores the night sky legends of the Native Americans, including the great sky bear, the frog sisters, and the pathway of souls, with up-close views of these amazing celestial sights and an exploration of the modern astronomy behind the legends. The show is an original production of The Planetarium at The State Museum of Pennsylvania.
From Earth to the Universe (Grade 6 and up)
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 1:00 PM; Saturday, 12:00 Noon and 2:00 PM; Sunday, 2:00 PM
This stunning voyage through time and space conveys, through an arresting combination of sights and sounds, the Universe revealed by science. A production of the ESO Supernova Planetarium, the show goes from the heart of the Solar System to the furthest reaches of time and space.
Planetarium shows are $3 per person in addition to general admission. Members of the State Museum Affiliate and the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation are admitted free. Planetarium shows are subject to change without prior notification. Please check the events calendar at www.statemuseumpa.org for the latest show dates and times.
ABOUT THE STATE MUSEUM OF PENNSYLVANIA
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).
The State Museum has joined other museums across the country in Museums for All. This program enables low-income families to visit participating museums for a nominal fee of $2 per person with the presentation of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and identification. This offer is for general admission only and excludes special programs or events.
For more information about the museum, visit www.statemuseumpa.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639