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    December Highlights at The State Museum of Pennsylvania

    November 22, 2013
    December Highlights at The State Museum of Pennsylvania

    ​News for Immediate Release

    ​Nov. 22, 2013

    December Highlights at The State Museum of Pennsylvania

    Harrisburg – The State Museum of Pennsylvania today announced its program schedule for December 2013.

    Special Exhibits:

    ·         “Chairs from the Collection of The State Museum of Pennsylvania” features a sampling of chairs from the museum’s collection, covering a variety of styles and representing the diversity of Pennsylvania, its artisans and cultures over the past 300 years. The exhibit runs through Sunday, April 27, 2014.

    ·         A panel display commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812 is on loan from the Canadian Consulate and on view through Sunday, Dec. 29. The display portrays the War of 1812 as seen through the eyes of its American, Canadian, British and Native American participants.

    ·         “A 20th-Century Christmas Tradition” showcases treasured trains from private collections and the Gruff Family Christmas Display from The State Museum’s permanent collection. It’s on display through Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014.

    ·         “Recycling Works!” is a special temporary display presented by the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, in conjunction with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association. It spotlights the commonwealth’s recycling industry and includes Pennsylvania-manufactured recycled-content products; the history of recycled-content product manufacturing and grassroots recycling in Pennsylvania; and advancements of recycling technology including single-stream recycling. The display runs through Sunday, March 16, 2014.

    The State Museum Store:  The perfect place to find unique Pennsylvania-themed holiday gifts, the store will offer select product specials on Friday, Dec. 6. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

    3rd in the Burg/Learn at Lunchtime:  Museum Director David W. Dunn will lead a tour of the special “Chairs” exhibit he curated at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, as a “Learn at Lunchtime” offering for Harrisburg’s 3rd in the Burg.  Museum general admission will be free from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to accommodate this tour.

    Holiday Celebration:  Nathaniel Gadsden’s Writers Wordshop will present its annual festival celebrating Kwanzaa and Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A community celebration of the family, the event will feature music, food, workshops and much more. Free museum admission; no cost to attend the celebration.

    Noon Year’s Eve:  The State Museum will welcome the New Year with its annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration for young children and their families on Friday, Dec. 27, 10 a.m. to noon.  An opportunity for kids to enjoy their own special “ringing in the New Year,” the celebration features dancing, crafts and snacks topped off by the museum’s famous firefly drop in Memorial Hall at noon. This family-friendly event is free with museum admission.

    The State Planetarium: Bigger, Brighter, Bolder! The State Museum presents its Planetarium XD, featuring the latest in projection technology.  Shows offered through February 23, 2014, include:

    ·         “Star Stories of the Native Americans” (grade 2 and up):  Explore the night sky legends of the Native Americans. Hear the stories of the great sky bear, the frog sisters and the pathway of souls. Get a close-up view of these amazing celestial sights and learn about the modern astronomy behind the legends.  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.

     

    ·         “We are Astronomers” (grade 4 and up): An amazing look at the global collaboration, technology, and dedication required to answer the unresolved questions of the universe. Explore how astronomers use the electromagnetic spectrum to study the universe and hear from these scientists about the challenges they face in sharing and storing data. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon; Saturday, noon and 2 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

    Planetarium shows are $2 per person in addition to general admission, and free to State Museum Affiliate Members.

    HOLIDAY CLOSINGS:  The State Museum’s administrative offices and galleries will be closed on Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25, and on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1. 

    The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 25 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and 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 era, 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 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children and senior citizens.

    For more information about the museum, visit www.statemuseumpa.org.

    Media Contact:    Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639

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