Traveling Exhibits in Museums Are Big Business!

Where can you learn about Harleys, rockets, or Picasso? How fast can you throw a baseball? What did King Tut take with him to the grave? Our nation's museums have the answers to your questions! This summer keep your children thinking and inspired by taking them on excursions to a museum, zoo, or aquarium. This is your time to supplement what your children learned in school by showing them the richness of history, real artifacts, and innovations in science and art.

Traveling exhibits in museums are big business! Museums spend millions of dollars bringing innovative action packed exhibits and large format films to their communities. Families are attending museums in record numbers as they look for ways to educate and entertain their children over the summer. Stuffy? No way. Many museum exhibits have hands on activities that challenge the brain, test preconceived ideas, and expand horizons. Visits are energizing and help keep the creative juices flowing. Why not find out what is going on in your state this summer? If you are traveling take time to discover the featured displays in the local museums. You can count on a lot of enjoyment for your dollar and your children will have something to tell their friends about when they get home.

Here are just a few examples of the innovative and action packed exhibits some of Museum Tour's member museums are showing this summer!

Midwest: In Indiana, treasures from 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history will be on exhibit at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis when
Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs opens on June 27.
The exhibit contains objects from about 2600 B.C. to 660 B.C., many which have never been in the United States.


The Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, MN will be showing Titanic the Artifact Exhibit. Discover the science behind the sinking of the Titanic and the recovery efforts. The artifacts recovered from the ocean floor reveal the stories of the Titanic and her passengers and crew.


A T. rex Named Sue will be visiting the St. Louis Science Center in St. Louis MI. Sue is a 42 feet long and 13 feet high fully-articulated cast skeleton of the famous T. rex. found by Sue Hendrickson. The exhibit also contains paleontological tools and fossils of Upper Cretaceous creatures discovered in the Midwest.


South: If you are living in or visiting Texas, the Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas is hosting a traveling exhibit where you can learn to be a spy. Take on a secret identity and carry out a covert mission in The Science of Spying.


The Amon Center in Ft. Worth is displaying the Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African-American Art: Works on Paper, as well as a photography exhibit, High Modernism: Alfred Stieglitz and His Legacy.


Also in the southern part of the US, the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, FL has a photography exhibit, Everglades Imagery: Intimate Detail of a Vast Landscape, and an exhibit of paintings world renowned paleo-artist Charles R. Knight.


Mid-Atlantic: A variety of exhibits are traveling in the Mid-Atlantic states this summer on topics as varied as the science of a circus to the discoveries of Galileo.


The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA has two special exhibits that are showing through September 7th. RACE: Are We So Different? is the creation of scientists, artists, and researchers exploring the race. RACE helps us understand race and racism through a variety of interactive activities and exhibits.


The Franklin is also the world exclusive host for Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy. The collections in the exhibit include instruments belonging to Galileo and paintings, prints and manuscripts from the Medici collection.


For family fun, check out Circus! at Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC. Learn about the science involved in the circus through interactive exhibits, including high wire and juggling.


The Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia is hosting Risk! This exhibit explores our perception, or misperception, of risk.


West Coast: In California and Oregon, museums and aquariums offer great opportunities for summer fun and learning.


The California Science Center in Los Angeles has two special exhibits this summer, Identity: An Exhibition of You, and Science in Toyland. Identity looks at the science behind identity and challenges with questions like "Who shares your skin color?" and "How much DNA do you share with your siblings?" The other special exhibit, Science in Toyland, explores what toys teach about science.


In Berkeley, the Lawrence Hall of Science is hosting Animal Grossology, a hilarious and informative exhibit based on the children's book series Grossology by Sylvia Branzei.


In Newport, Oregon, the Oregon Coast Aquarium's newest changing exhibit is Oddwater, an exhibit that combines marine biology and art. It features some of the most unusual life forms in the ocean along with blown glass displays and life-size murals.


In Portland, Oregon, the Museum of Science and Industry is hosting CSI: The Experience. This exhibit was created in collaboration with the hit CBS television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Visitors can investigate crimes using real investigation techniques like toxicology and forensic anthropology.


Northeast: On the opposite side of the country, Black Holes: Space Warps & Time Twists is making its debut at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts. Explore the physics of these fascinating celestial phenomena that intrigue science fiction fans and scientists alike.


Wherever you may be this summer, visit a museum and have a great time!

Swine Flu and Your Family

Swine Flu is likely to keep spreading so you need to stay abreast of precautions. The H1N1 virus which has infected a growing number of people around the world have now been found in 38 states. On June 11th, the World Health Organization designated the disease as a global pandemic. The disease spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing and touching people's hands that are not cleaned after nose rubbing. Summer travel is likely to escalate the spread of the disease.


The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. It is more dangerous to those with several medical complications. One thing that appears to be different from seasonal influenza is that so far adults older than 64 years do not yet appear to be at increased risk of H1N1. There is some thought that the disease may have been in the U.S. when they were children and that their immunity may be more highly developed. So far there are no cases of H1N1 spreading through swimming pools, drinking water, spas, water parks or fountains. But you should stay informed about how to care for your family. To find out what you can do to protect your health go to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Summer Learning Gap

Did you know that test scores average at least one month lower when students returned to school in the fall than they did before summer break? But the news gets worse. Students who fall behind during summer vacation are less interested in getting a college education and more likely to drop out of high school than their peers who have continued to actively learn over summer vacation. Some children read during the summer, which is a great way to maintain language skills. Math and Science are areas that parents need to work harder to find activities that will bridge the learning gap. We have put together a suggested list of remedial and enrichment items for your children. Throughout the catalog you will find science kits in subjects such as chemistry, physics, engineering, art, etc. It is easy to keep your children learning!

Lead and Children - Some Good News!

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compared the lead levels in children aged 1 to 5 years old from three time periods, 1988-1991, 1991-1994 and 1999-2004. The results show that far fewer kids have higher lead levels than 20 years ago. 8.6% of children had high lead levels in the 1988 - 1991 time period compared to only 1.4% in 1999-2004. Efforts to get lead out of paint, water and soil have reduced contamination. This is important progress because lead can interfere with the developing nervous system and cause permanent problems with learning, memory and behavior.

"Temporary" Tattoos?

Temporary Henna tattoos are popular at some vacation spots with the younger set. The problem is these tattoos are not Henna and sometimes not temporary. Henna is a natural reddish dye used by some cultures to tattoo hands and feet. Some of the temporary "Henna Tattoos" done at resorts contain chemical colors and high levels of para-phenylenediamine, a known allergen. PPD can cause blisters, itching, and sometimes lifelong side-effects. Some victims are left with a permanent allergy to anything containing PPD, such as hair dye and certain clothing dyes. Other permanent effects can include change in skin pigmentation and scarring.

Rocco Landesman Nominated as Chairman for the NEA

President Obama nominated Rocco Landesman
as the next chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
Mr. Landesman, currently the president and owner of the Jujamcyn Theaters is known for producing Broadway hits such as The Producers, Jersey Boys, and Proof. If confirmed Mr. Landesman will work to fund museums and other cultural institutions that are part of the nation’s educational and economic infrastructure.

Ice on the Moon?

The search goes on to find water on the Moon but so far the results are disappointing. Astronomers debating the issue since the early 1990s have hoped that large ice sheets could be a source of water, oxygen, and hydrogen fuel for a space station. But Donald B. Campbell of Cornell and his team have scanned the polar region finding only the rough lunar surface. To learn more click here

Is a Bad Economy Bad for Your Health?

Surprisingly the data is mixed. Eating at home instead of at fat laden restaurants, being in the house because of job loss and having the time to supervise children, not being stressed by a high pressure job, or having time to exercise all have positive effects on your health. To learn more click here

School-Age Boys are Struggling

Boys are twice a likely as girls to be struggling with behavior and emotional problems, according to report issued last week by the federal government's National Center for Health Statistics. Recent statistics also show that 57% of college students are women, and the effort to close the gender gap is now focused on increasing the academic achievements of boys. As parents you might want to become aware of the biases, trends, and impediments that your sons are facing in the home and school environment. To learn more read The Trouble with Boys
by Peg Tyre.

Teens Face Challenges in Finding Work

Teens face a double challenge in looking for jobs this summer. With the downturn in the economy, businesses in the entertainment and hospitality industries are hiring fewer summer workers. Many adult workers are looking for the jobs that traditionally teens have sought for summer employment. Statistics show that 33 percent of teenagers held summer jobs last year. Even lower numbers are predicted for this year. For ideas on how teens can find work for the summer, click here

Men Gain Weight During Pregnancy

Did you know that men gain weight during pregnancy? It turns out that the average gain is 14 lbs and the waistline increases by two inches. Only 30% of those surveyed joined their partner in an after baby diet. For more information about weight gain and pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness experienced by men click here

Recovery Money Available for Arts Organizations

In early May the National Endowment for the Arts announced $19.8 million in one-time grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). These grants will go to the state arts agencies and regional arts organizations to support the arts sector particularly in the area of preventing job loss. Potential recipients include organizations in the performing, visual, and literary arts. To view The Act in its entirety click here

The Great Galileo Galilei

With 2009 being our official Year of Astronomy I wish to spend a few moments today and share with you some quotes from one of our founding fathers of star gazing, Galileo Galilei Italian astronomer & physicist (1564 - 1642):)

“Mathematics is the key and door to the sciences.”

“I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him.”

“The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the Universe to do.”



Did you Know?

The word "Telescope" was derived from the Greek tele = 'far' and skopein = 'to look or see'.