JUNE – JULY 2013
Sparks!A Newsletter for Members and Friends of the Museum of Science
Inside This Issue • The Engine That Could • Big Shoes to Fill • Try This at Home!
Ticket to Ride Journey back to the age of steam and experience the ingenuity that shaped a nation.
t stretches 14,000 miles—through forests, over wide, sweeping rivers, an authentic period train takes you alongside lakes and bogs, and across three on a journey once deemed impossible. Gorgeous giant-format mountain ranges. Many said it would never aerial shots swoop you through the chasms and over the dizzy- I ing peaks of our neighbor to the north. work. It almost went bankrupt. But engineers and luck prevailed, and the Canadian Pacific Railway Montreal filmmaker Stephen Low used a helicopter and a ranks today among the marvels of engineering. gyro-stabilized camera mount to get those shots. The crew also Ride the rails yourself in Rocky Mountain Express, fixed cameras all over the train, so that you feel the rush as the a new IMAX® film now showing in the Mugar Empress, a restored steam locomotive, speeds down the line. Omni Theater. Three-dimensional maps and carefully restored archival im- ages enrich the experience. All Aboard! Next Stop: Unification The new film follows the original route of the old railway as it In 1871 the Canadian government had extracted a promise tells the tale of how this ribbon of steel came to be—and how from British Columbia to join the fledgling nation. The prov- it became the backbone of a new nation. From the crumbling inces would unite to form a dominion from sea to sea—and sandstone of the Canadian West, past unbridgeable lakes and Continued on next page end of one story but the beginning of The Empress a nation. The great Canadian Pacific Railway was complete. by the Numbers
End of the Line? She roars in gleaming blue-gray But how would the railroad pull through a cloud of steam. One of the through? Snowstorms, avalanches, most compelling characters in Rocky mudslides, and fires all took a toll Mountain Express is the engine known on the young railroad. The secret to survival ultimately lay within the as the Empress. Named Locomotive majestic mountains and vast prairies 2816 when she debuted in 1930, the that workers had toiled to traverse. engine underwent a three-year rebuild Continued from cover Tourists were drawn to what would and re-entered active service as an become Banff National Park, one of Canada would build a railroad all the ambassador for the Canadian Pacific the most beautiful places on Earth. way across. At the time, the interior Railway. Here are some key facts and The railroad enticed immigrants to the of the huge new country was largely figures for this historic steam engine, prairie and emerged as a critical link unmapped. Rocky Mountain Express in the development and settlement of the last of its kind. brings to life the story of William Cor- western Canada. Manufacturers in the nelius Van Horne, the American-born • Years in active service: 1930 – 1960 East could now count on raw materials railroad executive who saw the project coming in from the West. • Weight: 360,000 pounds through floods, avalanches, and near bankruptcy. Ultimately, the engineering feat • Length: 91 feet and 1 inch that strung a nation together would Under Van Horne, thousands of work- • Boiler pressure: 275 pounds per endure. Recapture the thrill of the age ers from around the world made their square inch of the iron horse in Rocky Mountain mark on a harsh landscape in the form • Operating speed: Over 70 miles per hour Express. of towering trestles and precarious cliff • Original technical drawings used in cuts. Many perished in the endeavor. Rocky Mountain Express is directed by Stephen Low and produced by Age of Steam Film Company Inc. the rebuild: 800 When financier Donald Smith drove that last iron spike in 1885, it was the Sponsored by • Miles logged: More than 2 million • Cost of the rebuild: More than $2 million
Rocky Mountain Express Now Showing in the Mugar Omni Theater Uncovering the History Beneath Our Feet A permanent outdoor exhibit exposes the region’s Jurassic past.
When you think of dinosaur discoveries, do you picture dinosaur. Similarities among bipedal animals (those that paleontologists brushing dirt off bones in the arid West? walk on two legs) allow scientists to make educated guesses Dinosaurs once roamed throughout the East Coast, and they about body structure and behavior from tracks alone. For left their mark here too. In fact, as the Museum’s newly over- one, bipedal dinosaurs generally have a leg length that is four hauled Dinosaur Footprints exhibit reminds us, New England times their foot length. Scientists can use that information is home to one of the richest concentrations of dinosaur to calculate an animal’s approximate size and, from a series tracks in the world! of tracks, how fast a dinosaur was traveling—whether it was walking, trotting, or running. They can also tell how social Set in Stone a particular species might have been, if it roamed alone or Dinosaur track sites are found in all parts of the world except walked in groups, and how many babies a mother might have Antarctica, and fossilized prints far outnumber skeletal fos- had in tow. sils for these ancient animals. The Connecticut Valley—a Huge new dinosaur trackways are still being discovered today. 100-mile-long stretch that extends through Connecticut and Who knows what mysteries scientists will unlock next from Massachusetts—is known worldwide for its wealth of tracks. these traces of the past? Last year Museum staff members made the trek down to Dinosaur State Park in Connecticut, where they made casts of actual dinosaur footprints. The trackway they installed along the Museum’s entryway gives you a peek at the First Impressions past, when a whole different set of species Did you know that the first recorded evidence of dinosaurs walked the Earth. in North America came from Massachusetts? In 1802, a boy Learning the Steps unearthed a sandstone slab imprinted with mysterious tracks while working on his family’s South Hadley farm. A local What can paleontologists tell from a professor and pioneer in the field of paleontology, Edward footprint? A lot! The prints in the Dino- Hitchcock, believed the tracks were made by a gigantic saur Footprints exhibit were most likely ancient bird; in 1869, scientists determined these were made by a Dilophosaurus (dye-LO-fuh- dinosaur tracks, and today we know that dinosaurs and birds SAWR-us) or a similar two-legged carnivorous are closely related. Rocky Mountain Express Now Showing in the Mugar Omni Theater H2 Oh Cool! Refreshingly simple science for a sizzling summer. Whether it’s a hard block of ice, a steaming hot bath, or hidden in the air around us, we can find water almost anywhere. While this common compound may seem ordinary, it has some amazing abilities. Test them out for yourself! Color Jumpers Icebergs Rushing water is a mighty force that sculpts our landscapes, Ever hear the phrase, “90% of an iceberg but even slow-moving water can transform our world. is underwater”? Well, the reason for that is Spend a bit of time and watch how water’s “stickiness”—its water’s strange property of expanding when properties known as cohesion and adhesion—can create it freezes. (Most substances do the opposite!) dramatic changes.
1 Fill a balloon with water and place it in the freezer overnight. (For less mess, place the balloon inside a bowl or other container in the freezer.)
2 Take the balloon out in the morning and observe that the balloon has cracked! Peel off the balloon so 1 Arrange five empty glasses in a row. Add blue food you are left with a block coloring to the first, red to the third, and yellow to of ice. the fifth; fill these halfway with water and stir well. Leave the second and fourth glasses empty. 3 Place the ice block in a bowl and fill it to the rim with liquid 2 Rip a paper towel in half and fold or twist it, making water. Notice how the ice floats a wick. Make four of these, placing them so they mostly under the water, but some floats above? bridge each glass. (See picture above.) Do you think the bowl This experiment takes a while, so be sure to put it where will overflow once the it won’t be in the way! Check it in a half hour. Do you see ice melts? Watch and anything happening? How does it find out! What do look after several hours? After you think this has 12 hours? What do you think to do with water’s causes this? ability to expand when frozen? A Sinking Filling Cloud Work You’ve heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls (see our temporary We can’t tell you how to save time in a bottle, but this exhibition through October 20), but what makes the Dead project can show you how to capture a cloud in one. Be Sea itself such a wonder of nature? With just a couple of sure to wear safety glasses for this experiment; it puts glasses, this experiment should give you a few ideas. contents under pressure.
1 Add a couple teaspoons of salt to one empty drinking 1 Take an empty, clear 2-liter plastic bottle—an empty glass and several drops of food coloring to another. soda bottle works just fine—and add only enough water to cover the very bottom (a half inch or so 2 Pour half a cup of warm water into each glass. does the trick). Stir well. 2 Insert the nozzle from a bicycle pump into the 3 Slowly pour some of the colored water into the bottle’s opening and hold it tightly in place—you salted water. don’t want the air to escape. Pump about 5 or 10 times and then quickly remove the nozzle from the What happens? Do the two liquids blend or separate? Can opening. Did you get a visible cloud? you make a connection between what’s happening here and what happens to your body when you try to float in a lake or 3 Repeat the experiment, but this time pump 15 to 20 in the ocean? How is this similar to the Dead Sea? times.
4 Try the experiment again using a few drops of rubbing alcohol instead of water. Here’s a tip: after you add the alcohol, swirl it around in the bottle, coating the sides.
Did you get a different result using the alcohol? Does the cloud form when the bottle is under high pressure or low pressure? Do you think you are seeing water vapor or little droplets of liquid water when you make a cloud?
want to try more experiments?
Drop by the Suit/Cabot Lab for the Hands-On Laboratory, in the Museum’s Red Wing, Lower Level, on Saturday afternoons from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. through Labor Day. (For up-to-date schedules and topics, check mos.org/daily.) Calendar of Events June – July 2013 Photo © TMP Images inspire Cover Photo © Nicolaus Czarnecki
Museum of Science 617-723-2500 617-589-0417 (TTY) mos.org
Information is subject to change. Please confirm all dates and times: Calendar highlights 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org. June July
Book Club for the Curious Let’s Celebrate July 4th! 13 Join a discussion about Strange New 4 Exclusive Member Event—Join this Thursday Thursday Worlds: The Search for Alien Planets popular rooftop party for our country’s and Life beyond Our Solar System by independence and get a great view Ray Jayawardhana. Cambridge Innovation of the fireworks over the Charles. Center. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. M ! $
Member Overnight Book Club for the Curious 15 Exclusive Member Event—Enjoy exclusive 11 Join a discussion about A Vast Machine: Saturday Thursday after-hours access to the Exhibit Halls and Computer Models, Climate Data, and the more! Geared for children ages 6 – 13 and Politics of Global Warming by Paul Edwards. their families. 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 a.m. Also Cambridge Innovation Center. 5:30 p.m. June 21. M ! $ 22 EurekaFest™ Saturday Cheer on students as they compete in the ultimate design battle, and put your own skills of invention to the test! 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Symbol Key M Members may reserve tickets in advance and/or receive discounts. ! Reservations are either required or strongly recommended. $ A fee is associated with this event or exhibit. Photo © Michael Malyszko Photo © Michael Exhibit Halls For more information: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org/exhibits.
New! Dead Sea Scrolls: Life in Ancient Times Through Sunday, October 20 View pieces of the oldest-known copy of the Hebrew Bible, and experience firsthand the culture and iconic artifacts of ancient Israel.
New! Seasons of Change: Global Warming in Your Backyard Opens in June Find out how climate change is affecting the people and landscapes of New England as you investigate issues like coastal flooding, invasive species, and forest change.
Butterfly Garden Closed June 24 – 26 for planting and maintenance. Explore a living exhibit filled with sunlight, plants, and free-flying butterflies. Timed tickets required. Discounts Photo © TMP Images available for members.
FEATURED PRESENTATION Live presentations are offered throughout the day Hall of Human Life—Catch a every day in the Exhibit Halls. For current schedules: Sneak Peek 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org/daily. For Preschoolers: Live Animal Story Time The Green Wing, Level 2 is still under construction June showtimes: as we develop our new 10,000-square-foot, experi- Saturdays (except June 22) and Sundays, 10:30 a.m.; ence-rich Hall of Human Life, but keep an eye out this Mondays, 9:30 a.m. summer and you may get a small preview of what’s July showtimes: visit mos.org/daily. to come! The Hall of Human Life team will be testing Hear a story and meet its animal star in a presentation some of the exhibition’s new interactive experiences in made especially for younger visitors! the Blue Wing. If you see them, join in—your feedback could help fine-tune some new components! Mugar Omni Theater Featuring New England’s only IMAX® Dome screen. For showtimes, tickets, and a complete list of films now playing: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org. Service charge waived for members. Shows run approximately 50 minutes.
Sponsored by
Featured Films
New! Rocky Mountain Express On Exhibit Through October 20 Speed through the Canadian Rockies on a thrilling train journey back to the age of steam. Experience the colossal feats of engineering—and epic risks—that In a time of turmoil in ancient Israel, a library shaped a nation. of more than 900 manuscripts was hidden away in caves, remaining there for nearly 2,000 years. See a selection of these iconic texts and discover what the scrolls, and other millennia-old artifacts, tell us about the culture, rituals, and beliefs of an influential Iron Age people.
Daytime and Saturday admission Friday Evenings Evenings (includes Exhibit (exhibition Halls admission) entry only) The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea Fly across iridescent tropical reefs, brush through GENERAL PUBLIC a cloud of a million jellyfish, and visit an alien world Adult $32.00 $22.00 where the closer you look, the more you see. Senior (60+) $29.00 $21.00 Child (3 – 11) $27.00 $20.00 Returning! The Greatest Places MEMBERS Travel to seven of the most dynamic landscapes on All Ages $8.00 $8.00 Earth, including Greenland’s giant icebergs, Tibet’s Chang Tang Plateau, and Iguazu’s immense waterfall. • Admission is by timed ticket only. Advance reservations are highly recommended. • Admission at the member rate is limited to the number of Exhibit Halls entries permitted with your membership level. • Saturday evening rates apply to extended-hours entry to Dead Sea Scrolls only; the main Exhibit Halls will be closed. Extended hours: Now – July 4, after 5:00 p.m.; July 5 – Labor Day, after 7:00 p.m. • Phone orders: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY); 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. • Online orders: mos.org; Y 24 hours a day. ENDED T RDA EX RS! SATUOU H
Created by the Israel Antiquities Authority from the collections of the Israel National Treasures and produced by Discovery Times Square and The Franklin Institute. Charles Hayden Planetarium For showtimes and tickets: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org. Service charge waived for members. Shows run approximately 35 – 45 minutes.
New! Explore: Stars Over the Dead Sea Long before telescopes, ancient people carefully observed the stars and planets. Travel back thousands of years to compare their sky to that of modern-day Boston.
Big Bird’s Adventure: One World, One Sky Journey with Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, and learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun, and the Moon.
Moons: Worlds of Mystery Experience the spectacular forces at work on these natural satellites, and discover just how complex and wild the solar system really is. Produced by the Museum of Science. 3-D Digital Cinema Shows in Wright Theater. For showtimes and tickets: Undiscovered Worlds: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org. Discounts available for members. 3-D shows run The Search Beyond Our Sun approximately 20 minutes. The discovery of exoplanets—the hundreds of known planets that orbit stars beyond the Sun—may lead us Last Chance! Meerkats closer to finding an Earth-like world. Produced by the Through Thursday, July 4 Museum of Science. Catch this winsome and tenacious team of Kalahari Desert dwellers before they scamper away. Explore: The Sky Tonight Find planets, stars, and constellations visible from New Last Chance! Flying Monsters England with an astronomy expert as your guide. It’s the Through Thursday, July 4 next best thing to being out under the stars! Soar through the skies with prehistory’s fascinating flying giant reptiles, the pterosaurs, while dinosaurs Explore: The Universe roam below. Leave the Earth behind and blast off to explore our solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond. Journey through the cosmos with a Planetarium educator as your star pilot.
Gilliland Observatory Visiting the Observatory is free thanks to the generosity of the Lowell Institute.
Friday Evening Stargazing Fridays; 8:30 – 10:00 p.m. Join us on Friday evenings for astronomy activities, and stargazing as weather permits: 617-589-0267. Our rooftop telescopes give you spectacular live views of stars, planets, lunar craters, and more. Adult Offerings For more information: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org/events. Funded in part by the Barbara and Malcolm L. Sherman Fund for Adult Programs and by the David and Join the Charles River Cleanup Marion Ellis Endowment Fund.
Book Club for the Curious Over the spring and summer, the Charles River Thursdays, June 13 and July 11; accumulates floating debris, and the Charles River 5:30 p.m. Clean Up Boat comes to the rescue! The Museum Feeling inquisitive? Looking donates funds to support the effort, and Museum for good conversation? Love staff account for one-third of the Clean Up Boat science and books? The Book program’s volunteers. Still, this privately funded Club for the Curious is just the nonprofit needs more help. thing for you! Free and open Volunteer for a seven-hour shift as part of the to the public, these monthly cleanup crew, and receive Exhibit Halls passes book discussions focus for your efforts. on science, technology, and their impact on society. • Learn more at cleanupboat.org.
• Location: Cambridge Innovation Center, One Broadway, 14th Floor, Cambridge, MA. • June 13: Strange New Worlds: The Search for Alien Planets and Life beyond Our Solar System by Ray Jayawardhana • July 11: A Vast Machine: Computer Models, Climate Data, and the Politics of Global Warming by Paul Edwards • Presented in partnership with the Cambridge Innovation Center.
Bring the Museum to You This Summer!
The Museum’s Traveling Programs bring science to your library, camp, scout group, or community center. These exciting public programs start at just $255 and are fun for any age group. From animal invaders to rockets to the portable planetarium, these programs are sure to delight!
• For more information: 617-589-0354 or mos.org/traveling-public-programs.
Photo © Nicolaus Czarnecki Exclusive Member Events For more information, use the numbers and addresses listed below or contact: 617-589-0180, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org/members.
Member Overnight Saturday, June 15; 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 21; 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 a.m. Sure you’ve camped out under the stars, but have you rolled out your sleeping bag beside prehistoric creatures? Sleep inside your favorite Museum exhibit, enjoy exclusive activities, complimentary shows in the Mugar Omni Theater and Charles Hayden Planetarium, and an evening full of experiences your friends and family will never forget! Photo © Nicolaus Czarnecki
• Fee: $50 per person. Advance registration required. Space is limited; first come, first served. Member Tips • Children must be accompanied by adult chaperones age 21 or older. Start your summer off right with a trip to • To purchase tickets: 617-723-2500, mos.org/members. the Museum—and continue learning year round! Here are a few tips to make your summer visit a breeze. • Reserve your tickets in advance. We’ll waive the handling fees and save your spot. Call 617-723-2500 or visit mos.org just a few days in advance of your visit. • Remember to bring your current membership card for immediate Exhibit Halls entry and discounts in the Museum store, café, and garage. • To avoid peak crowds, arrive before 10:30 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m. • Arrive at least one hour before any scheduled show, to allow time to park and pick up tickets. Late entries to timed shows are not permitted.
Photo © Nicolaus Czarnecki • Take public transportation, or have a backup plan for parking in case the Museum garage reaches capacity. Let’s Celebrate July 4th! See mos.org/parking for ideas. Tickets on sale now. • Take advantage of the Membership Booth (open Celebrate the Fourth of July with a fun-filled evening daily 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.). Renew or upgrade your of family entertainment, science activities, and a live membership, purchase show tickets, or find information broadcast of the Boston Pops Concert, capped by the on upcoming member events all at this one-stop spectacular fireworks display over the Charles River. membership shop. The annual members-only event takes place on the Museum’s garage roof, which provides one of the best Sign Up for E-News! views in the city. Visit mos.org for detailed information Be a member in the know! Sign up for our monthly about activities, events, food, parking, and more. member e-newsletter to receive not only member • Ticket availability is limited to the number of Exhibit Halls event reminders but also late-breaking Museum admissions permitted with your membership level. news and exclusive online offers. Sign up at • All tickets are sold first come, first served. Remember, this mos.org/members. event always sells out early, and tickets will not be available for purchase the day of the event. • For complete event details: mos.org/members. July Events Support the Washburn Challenge For more information: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), mos.org/events. Remembered for his varied achievements— as mountaineer, photographer, and visionary EurekaFest™ 2013 founding director of the Museum of Science— Saturday, June 22; 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Bradford Washburn also created a map of Mount High school students from across the country compete Washington that is still used by climbers today. To in the 7th annual all-day design challenge. Watch the honor Washburn and raise much-needed support design trials, fill up your “passport” of activities, earn for the Museum’s Annual Fund, a team of climbers scout patches, and win special EurekaFest magnets will ascend Mount Washington on Sunday, July 14. in a family-friendly day chock full of engineering and • To join the team or support their efforts: mos.org/challenge. invention! EurekaFest is a local celebration designed to empower the next generation of inventors through activities that inspire youth, honor role models, and encourage creativity and problem-solving. Photo © TMP Images • Free with Exhibit Halls admission. • For more information about EurekaFest activities citywide (June 21 – 23): 617-253-3352, eurekafest.org. • EurekaFest is a partnership of the Lemelson–MIT program and the Museum of Science. Supported by Continuum.
Science in Action!
In grade 5 – 8? Interested in trying out some cool, cutting-edge gear? We’re researching the way middle school visitors engage with exhibits and think about big ideas, and we need your help! Photo © Michael Malyszko Photo © Michael Participation takes 45 minutes; all participants will be given free parking for their visit and a special thank you. For more information or to volunteer, email [email protected].
The Museum of Science gratefully acknowledges the support of our The Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs receive Premier Partners: important support from individual members and donors like you. Additional support provided by:
The Massachusetts Media Partner Cultural Council inspire Cover Photo © Nicolaus Czarnecki
Museum of Science 617-723-2500 617-589-0417 (TTY) mos.org 1 Museum News
1 Stars of STEM Shine 4 Seeing Maps in a New Light The Museum’s annual signature event, The In January, ByteLight, a Boston-based start-up, Science Behind the Stars, was held at the launched its first pilot right here in Cahners Westin Boston Waterfront on April 18. With ComputerPlace (Blue Wing, Level 1): an inno- 365 members of the Museum community in vative indoor positioning system using LED attendance, the event honored the 2013 Stars (light-emitting diodes) lighting. Twenty unique- of STEM, Liberty Mutual (with President and ly programmed ByteLight-enabled LED lights Photo © TMP Images 2 CEO David Long accepting), Dr. Pendred allow visitors to explore and navigate the exhibit Noyce (shown), and the Noyce Foundation. based on their precise real-time position. By The event raised more than $420,000 using an iPad provided by the Museum, visi- through ticket sales, sponsorship, and a live tors can search for different interactive spots, auction to fund student access programs at get directions, and take a self-guided tour. The the Museum. Museum hopes to add more of these learning and wayfinding aids in the future. 2 A Decade of Note It’s been ten years since Ioannis Miaoulis 5 Festivities Support Assistive first took the helm as president and director Technologies of the Museum of Science, and the Mu- Each year, the Museum Volunteer Service seum celebrated his anniversary in January. League organizes the popular Let’s Celebrate Since Miaoulis’s arrival, the Museum has July 4th! event, a rooftop party attended by welcomed approximately 15 million visitors, hundreds of Museum members. Proceeds Photo © TMP Images 3 had the ten highest attendance days in its from the event go to a grant program that history, and opened five of its top ten tempo- funds improvements proposed by Museum rary exhibits. The initiatives he spearheads staff. This year, the July 4th Grants Program also touch lives beyond the Exhibit Halls: the enabled the Museum to purchase pediatric Museum’s National Center for Technologi- wheelchairs—child-sized versions of the cal Literacy,® for instance, has reached more standard wheelchairs available to Museum than 4 million students in 50 states. visitors with injuries or limited mobility. Other grant-funded purchases included 3 Planetarium in the Spotlight foreign-language guides presenting basic On February 15, when eyes were on the skies Museum information in many different for the predicted flyby of a small near-Earth languages, available both online and at asteroid, another space object took the world the Museum.
Photo © Michael Malyszko Photo © Michael by storm—a meteor that exploded over 4 Russia’s Ural Mountains. Addressing the piqued interest in the dramatic fireball and shockwave, WCVB’s Jack Harper reported live from the Museum at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and interviewed Charles Hayden Planetarium systems coordinator Darryl Davis, showcasing a 50,000-year-old meteorite from our Cosmic Light exhibit. General Information
Photo © Nicolaus Czarnecki Photo © Michael Malyszko HOURS Hours, which are subject to change, are extended during Accessibility Massachusetts school vacations. For updates: mos.org/hours. For information about accessibility in the Museum: mos.org/accessibility. For questions or accommodation requests: 617-589-3102, Exhibit Halls [email protected]. Please request ASL interpreters at least • Regular (Sat – Thurs) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. two weeks in advance. • Fridays 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Year round) • Summer (Sat – Thurs) 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (July 5 – Labor Day) Educational Resources • Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Field Trips • Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day Closed For information about Museum field trips and other opportunities for educators, such as the Teacher Partner Program: 617-723-2500, Tickets and Information [email protected], mos.org/educators. Advance reservations recommended. For current prices and Traveling Programs to purchase tickets: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0417 (TTY), Bring a fun and interactive Museum program to your pre K – 8 school mos.org. For membership information: 617-589-0180, or community center! For information and reservations: 617-589-0354, [email protected], mos.org/members. [email protected], mos.org/travelingprograms.
Directions and Parking • Address 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114 • Detailed Directions 617-723-2500, mos.org/directions Imagine. Innovate. Inspire. • Parking Museum parking is available first come, first served. Support The Campaign for the Museum of Science. For more Members receive a discount in the Museum garage. information, call us at 617-589-0181 or visit mos.org/campaign.
Boston Duck Tours Tickets sold in the Red Wing, near the Mugar Omni Theater. Sparks! june – july 2013 DUCKs depart from the driveway near the T. rex. Tours run daily, April – November. For reservations: 617-267-3825, Marketing Communications Director: Carl Zukroff Editors: Christopher DelConte and Jessica Maloney bostonducktours.com. Members receive a discount. Art Director: Lori Sartre Designers: Fanny Lau, Lianne Stoddard Event Planning Contributors: Anna Brophy, Jill Maxwell, William Walsh Host your next event at the Museum of Science! Food services provided Sparks is published bimonthly. Circulation: 55,000. by Wolfgang Puck Catering. For information: 617-589-0125 (Monday – © 2013 Museum of Science, Boston. All rights reserved. Friday), [email protected]. Members are eligible for special rates.
Stay Connected with the Museum community! For updates, special offers, and fun science:
facebook.com/museumofscience @museumofscience on Twitter Member@ E-News at mos.org/members Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Salem, NH Permit #151
Rocky Mountain Express Now Showing in Omni
See cover story
June – July 2013
Sparks!A Newsletter for Members and Friends of the Museum of Science
Reserve your tickets today to see these priceless world treasures!
On Exhibit Through October 20 Created by the Israel Antiquities Authority from the collections of the Israel National Treasures and produced by Discovery Times Square and The Franklin Institute.
In partnership with
Educational Partner
On Exhibit May 19 – October 14 Media Partner