The State Museum of Pennsylvania Announces July 2013 Highlights

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The State Museum of Pennsylvania today announced its program schedule for July 2013:

Special Civil War Anniversary Open Hours & Tours:  To accommodate the many museum members and visitors to the region who will be seeking the Gettysburg 150th experience, The State Museum will be open on Monday and Tuesday, July 1 and 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteer docents will welcome visitors to The State Museum's new exhibit, "Objects of Valor: Commemorating the Civil War in Pennsylvania," from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., July 1-7 (museum is closed July 4). "Objects of Valor" showcases treasured State Museum artifacts that reflect 150 years of collecting and preserving the commonwealth's role in the Civil War.

Civil War Commemoration Discounts: Also to mark the Battle of Gettysburg 150th, The State Museum is partnering with the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg to offer extended hours and discounts on adult admissions. Visitors who purchase a general adult admission ticket at either museum will receive a coupon on their receipts for $2 off general adult admission to the other institution. The offer is valid for each paid adult admission through Sept. 1, 2013.

Summer Day Camps:  Reservations are still open for two special one-day summer camps at The State Museum:

• Native American Day Camps will be offered Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9 and 10, for children ages 7 to 10. 

• Mammals of Pennsylvania Day Camps will be offered Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, July 16, 17, and 18, also for children ages 7 to 10.

Both camps, which include hands-on activities, are one-day courses, held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $35 per child or $30 per child for State Museum Affiliate Members. Reservations may be made by calling 717-772-6997. Spaces are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

"Art of the State" Exhibition: "Art of the State" is recognized as the official, statewide juried competition for Pennsylvania artists. This year's show includes 137 pieces from 131 artists working in 31 counties throughout the state.  "Art of the State" is presented by Jump Street and The State Museum of Pennsylvania and runs through Sept. 8, 2013. 

Artists Conversations, a Special Gallery Tour for Harrisburg's 3^rd in the Burg: 

On Friday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m., The State Museum will host a casual insider's tour of "Art of the State" with featured artist Sue Reno of Columbia, Lancaster County, and State Museum Director David Dunn. Reno received a State Museum purchase prize award for her quilt, "Silk Mill #3."  The program is free and open to the public. 3^rd in the Burg is a monthly celebration of Harrisburg's art and entertainment.

StoryTime in Curiosity Connection:  State Museum volunteers and staff will offer a children's book reading program for six weeks this summer on Thursday mornings beginning July 11 and continuing through Aug. 15. Featuring a different book each week, the readings start at 10 a.m., followed by a related activity. This summer's StoryTime series is dedicated in memory of Dawn Dutcher, the museum's Curiosity Connection director, who died on May 31. The program, which is designed for children ages 3-5, is free with museum admission.

Learn at Lunchtime:  The State Museum hosts free-admission summer hours between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. starting Fridays in July and continuing every Friday through Aug. 31. Free tours of the "Art of the State" exhibit by art docents are offered as well as talks by museum curators in select history and science galleries each Friday from noon to 1 p.m.

The State Planetarium: Bigger, Brighter, Bolder! The State Museum presents its newly-upgraded Planetarium XD, featuring the latest state-of-the-art technology. Shows offered through Sept. 1 include:

"Don't Duck, Look Up!" (Pre-K and K)

Join Dudley the Duck for a fun and friendly exploration of the sky including the motions of the sun, stars, and Earth, daytime and nighttime, and the constellations. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 1 p.m., Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Sundays at 1 p.m.

"Two Small Pieces of Glass" (grade 3 and up)

Learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and how telescopes continue to expand our understanding of the universe. See how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use these instruments to explore the mysteries of the universe. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 2 p.m., Saturdays at noon and 2 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

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

Holiday Closure: The State Museum's administrative offices and galleries will be closed on July 4, 2013.

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 state'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

SOURCE Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission