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

Put a spring in your step with family and friends at the Brandywine Zoo! Experience live entertainment, fun animal games, crafts, and activities all while taking in the great outdoors. With FREE Admission



For more information: www.brandywinezoo.org

Location: The Brandywine Zoo 1001 North Park Drive
(Brandywine Park) Wilmington, Delaware 19802

This event is appropriate for: the whole family

Cost: Free

Sponsored Post:
This post is sponsored by Just Between Friends Consignment Sales Event on April 2nd & 3rd at Brandywine Youth Club 41 Thornton Road - Glen Mills, PA

Hagley's Invention Convention is three full days of inventing, experimenting, hands-on fun, and interactive educational entertainment for families.

At the Tinkering Tables, visitors can take apart gadgets to see what makes them tick!

At the Create an Invention station, you can build your own incredible invention and apply for a Hagley patent!

See an exciting new show each day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Cool Chemistry
Miracle Workerz' Amazing Robots
Fun with Physics


For more information: www.hagley.lib.de.us

Location: 200 Hagley Rd, Wilmington, DE, 19807.

This event is appropriate for: kids ages 3 and older

Cost: Free for Hagley members.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3.50 per child (free for children three and under), and includes cost of supplies.

Sponsored Post
This post is sponsored by Main Line Camp Fair on Wednesday January 26th at Conestoga High School.

Last week my kids and I took a field trip to Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, which is located in Wilmington DE about a 30 minute drive from Delaware County. Many people hear museum and they don't think of it as a place to take their kids, but the gorgeous estate is a lot of fun for the little ones.

We started out our tour on a tram car that took us to the Enchanted Woods for kids. Well that won the kids over right away, riding in a special car throughout the beautiful gardens. Once we arrived at the Enchanted Woods the kids loved exploring the fairy-tale garden. The garden is on a three-acre plot at Winterthur. The story behind the Enchanted Woods is that it has been taken over by the woodland fairies who transformed the woods into a place of enchantment, mystery, and discovery. It's a great place for the kids to play and explore, we also saw many families who brought a picnic and were eating lunch there.

Once we finished in the garden we took another tram to the mansion. My oldest thought the house was so fancy and wanted to live there. On Tuesday they have a program called Terrific Tuesdays in July and August. Kids can learn about life, long ago through fun, hands-on programs that run at 11:30 am and again at 1:30 pm. Other activities are offered at the museum and garden from 10 am to 3 pm each day. This is perfect if you have kids who love arts and crafts.

They also have a program on Wednesdays called WOW! Wee Ones at Winterthur. Now offered twice monthly (repeated program)! First, check-in or register at the Visitor Center, then walk or take the shuttle over to the Galleries Reception Area of the main museum building to begin the program at 10:15.
Program lasts approx. 1 hour.
For ages 3-5 and an adult caregiver(s)


Next we made our way to the Touch It Room. My kids couldn't believe that they were allowed to touch everything in the room. It was great that the kids had the chance to play with the old toys like tops and Jacobs ladders. The room also has a general store area as well as hands-on displays and activities about lighting, kitchenware, and crafts. The tea set, puzzles, dress-up clothes, and basket of wooden toys provide a playful way to learn about early American life.

Wintherthur also has an exhibit called K is for Kids. This exhibit offers kids an alphabetical look at Winterthur's diverse collection. The exhibit includes items from an aquarium to zoo animal cards with a fire bucket, a globe, and more in between! Rhyming descriptions accompany the items.

We spent a wonderful day at Winterthur, the only downside is, it was very hot so we didn't get a chance to explore the gardens as much as we wanted to.




For more information: www.winterthur.org/

Location: Route 52
(5105 Kennett Pike)
Winterthur DE 19735

Cost: $18 for adults
$5 for kids

Sculptor Stan Smokler exhibits metal works inspired by the sea at Steel Currents, open June 4 through July 18 at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. Smokler's welded steel sculptures represent abstractions of a horseshoe crab, lobster, seaweed, nautilus and other marine life.


WHAT: Steel Currents: Sculptor Stan Smokler exhibits works inspired by ocean life with interpretation by the museum's curator of mollusks.

WHERE: Delaware Museum of Natural History, 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807

DATES: Friday, June 4 - Sunday, July 18, 2010

HOURS: Monday - Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 12 - 4:30 p.m.


ADMISSION: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children (3-17), free for children 2 and younger.

INFORMATION: Call 302-658-9111 or visit www.delmnh.org.