Denver Museum of Nature & Science Announces 2014 Highlights
Offerings include three new temporary exhibitions, new IMAX 3D films, and the grand opening of the Morgridge Family Exploration Center and Rocky Mountain Science Collections Center
Denver—December 5, 2013—The new year will be a big one at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science with a new lineup of temporary exhibitions, IMAX 3D films, and the opening of the Morgridge Family Exploration Center and Rocky Mountain Science Collections Center. Included below are highlights for the Museum, which serves more than 1.4 million people annually and has a membership roster of more than 63,000 households.
NEW WING
Morgridge Family Exploration Center
Opens Friday, February 14
The Morgridge Family Exploration Center is three levels above ground in which visitors of all ages experience engaging new ways to ignite their curiosity through Exploration Studios for 21st-century students, the new Anschutz Gallery for special exhibitions, a lively atrium space, a beautiful outdoor plaza, and a brand-new Discovery Zone for early learners (opening in June, see below).
Rocky Mountain Science Collections Center
Opens Friday, February 14
The Rocky Mountain Science Collections Center is 63,000 square feet in two underground levels devoted to providing consolidated housing for nearly 1.5 million artifacts and specimens for the first time in Museum history, ensuring they are sustained in perpetuity for generations to come.
Discovery Zone
Opens Saturday, June 7
A new state-of-the-art Discovery Zone for early learners, made possible by Kaiser Permanente, is located on Level 2 of the Morgridge Family Exploration Center. Its activities will help build a strong foundation of science skills for children, especially those between the ages of three to five, through hands-on, highly experiential Museum experiences.
EXHIBITIONS
Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed
Opens Friday, February 14
Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed is the largest exhibition about the ancient Maya ever to be displayed in the United States. Through a combination of never-before-seen artifacts, hands-on activities, and immersive environments—including re-creations of an underworld cave, the starry night sky, and a vibrantly colored mural room—visitors will explore the rise and eventual decline of this fascinating culture’s ancient cities.
Whales: Giants of the Deep
Opens Friday, October 10
Whales: Giants of the Deep brings visitors closer than ever to some of the mightiest, most massive, and mysterious mammals on Earth. Featuring life-size models, interactive exhibits, and more than 20 stunning whale skulls and skeletons, the family-friendly exhibition reveals the history of the close relationship between humans and whales, from the traditions of Maori whale riders to the whaling industry to the rise of laws protecting whales from commercial hunters. This exhibition is developed and presented by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and made possible through the support of the New Zealand Government and the Smithsonian Institution.
Traveling the Silk Road
Opens Friday, November 21
This exhibition is an engaging journey along the greatest trading route in history—the legendary Silk Road. Explore the ancient cities of Asia and the Middle East between AD 600 and 1200, where spectacular sights, exquisite silks, and rousing stories were in abundance. Learn about silk worms spinning cocoons, the raucous night markets, the ancient crafts of paper-making and glassblowing, and the trusty form of transportation along the route, the camel. This exhibition is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org), in collaboration with the ArtScience Museum, Singapore; Azienda Speciale Palaexpo, Roma, Italy and Codice. Idee per la cultura srl, Torino, Italy; the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, Australia and Art Exhibitions Australia; and the National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan and United Daily News, Taipei, Taiwan.
PHIPPS IMAX THEATER
Jerusalem 3D
Opens Friday, February 14
Filmed for the first time for the giant screen, Jerusalem 3D immerses audiences in one of the world’s most beloved cities. Discover why this tiny piece of land is sacred to three major religions through the stories of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim families who call Jerusalem home, and follow the path of archaeologists revealing some of the mysteries of the Old City. Rare and breathtaking footage of the Holy Land make this a stunning cinematic experience.
Journey to the South Pacific 3D
Opens Friday, February 14
Take a breathtaking adventure to the lush tropical islands of remote West Papua, where life flourishes above and below the sea. Follow a young island boy on a journey of discovery where you will encounter an exotic locale with whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, and other iconic creatures of the sea. An uplifting story of hope and celebration, Journey to the South Pacific 3D highlights the importance of living in balance with the ocean planet we all call home.
Pandas 3D: A Journey Home
Opens Friday, June 6
Travel to the lush, mystical Wolong National Nature Reserve in China and venture behind closed doors at the Conservation and Research Center for the Wild Panda. The filmmakers’ unprecedented access reveals the secrets of panda breeding and discovers that the Chinese are on the brink of achieving an extraordinary environmental turnaround. You will be unable to resist these endearing animals as they tackle the challenge of being reintroduced to the wild.
SCFD COMMUNITY FREE DAYS
The Museum is offering 12 Community Free Days in 2014, made possible by the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. For more information, click here.
- Monday, January 13
- Sunday, February 2
- Sunday, March 2
- Sunday, April 13
- Saturday, April 26 (Día de los Niños)
- Monday, June 2
- Monday, June 30
- Sunday, July 20
- Monday, September 8
- Sunday, September 28
- Monday, October 27
- Monday, December 1
Media Contact
Charlotte Hurley, [email protected]
About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region's leading resource for informal science education. A variety of engaging exhibits, discussions and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. To learn more about the Museum, check www.dmns.org, or call 303-370-6000. Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.