news SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 VOLUME 20, NUMBER 5 w w w. h m n s . o r g
OUT OF THE AM AZ O N : LIFE ON T HE RI V E R
SPECIAL EXHIBITION OPENS OCTOBER 23
HMNS IN THIS ISSUE • WIDE ANGLE: THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES
In
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2 Wide Angle: The World Through My Eyes 3 Spirits & Skeletons General Information 4 -5 Spies, Traitors, and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America 6 -7 Out of the Amazon: Life on the River 8-9 HMNS @ Sugar Land 10 Burke Baker Planetarium 11 George Observatory
Wide Angle: The World Through My Eyes Photography of Sam W. Gainer Now on View When Sam Gainer’s parents showed him how to use the Brownie Hawkeye camera they took on family vacations back in the 1950s, they did not realize the spark they had ignited. It was the beginning of a life-long passion for both travel and photography that would eventually take Sam to over 146 countries around the world to capture the diversity of mankind and nature through photography. His tenacity in tracking, chasing and waiting for the perfect shot enables him to capture his subjects at the moment that epitomizes their essence. Whether you’re looking for armchair adventure or you’re planning your own photography life list, Sam Gainer’s magical point of view invites you now to gaze through his lens and see what he has seen. His magnificent images provide a fascinating and vibrant glimpse of natural vistas and people, cultures and traditions from all over the world. This exhibition is free with Museum admission.
12 - 13 Wortham Giant Screen Theatre 14 Wiess Energy Hall 15 International Year of Soil
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16 Cockrell Butterfly Center 17 Adult Education 18 - 19 For Teachers 20 - 21 Just For Kids 22 - 23 Events Calendar HMNS Museum Store
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EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AWARDS LUNCHEON The Museum is honored to have as our keynote speaker Dr. Zahi Hawass— renowned archaeologist, Egyptologist and Egypt’s former Minister of Antiquities. This year’s event is chaired by Harriet and Truett Latimer and will be held at Houston Country Club on October 22. Proceeds from the luncheon support the many ways our Museum provides science education for patrons young and old. For tickets or more information please contact Sveta Darnell, sdarnell@hmns.org or (713) 639-4729.
SPIRITS & SKELETONS Spirits and Skeletons Saturday, October 31 8 p.m. – midnight Tickets $50, Members $25 Don’t miss a frightfully good time at Spirits and Skeletons, the premiere Halloween party in Houston. Wear your fiercest costume and bust a move with the Space Rockers in our dinosaur graveyard and mummy's tomb. Advance ticket purchase recommended. Cash bar and food truck fare. 21+ only.
GENERAL INFORMATION MAIN CAMPUS
GEORGE OBSERVATORY PARKING GARAGE
HOURS OF OPERATION
Membership level determines the number of discounted tickets you may purchase: Individual, Student & Senior, 1; Dual, 2; Family level & above, 2 adults & 4 children.
Labor Day Weekend Hours: September 5 through September 7: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check www.hmns.org for film schedules and special closures. Permanent Exhibit Halls FREE after 3 p.m. on Thursdays.
ADVANCE PURCHASES
Payable by credit card only. (713) 639-4629 Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Handling fee for phone orders only. Online at www.hmns.org
SPECIAL SERVICES
Call (713) 639-4629. Wheelchairs provided at no cost, subject to availability.
Member $5, nonmember $10, all others $20
MEMBER TICKETS
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS (713) 639-4616, TTY (713) 639-4687 e-mail: membership@hmns.org
BUILDING RENTAL (713) 639-4749
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Museum Parties for Main Campus and Sugar Land (713) 639-4773; Challenger Birthday Mission at the George Observatory (281) 242-3055.
(281) 242-3055 www.hmns.org/observatory Located in Brazos Bend State Park. Park entrance fee: $7 per person; free for ages 12 & under. S
SUGAR LAND (281) 313-2277 www.hmns.org/sugarland 13016 University Boulevard Sugar Land, Texas 77479
HOURS OF OPERATION
Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: noon to 5 p.m. Holiday Hours: Labor Day, September 7: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Columbus Day, October 12: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
RENTALS & SPECIAL EVENTS (281) 313-2277, extension 101
www.hmns.org/visit
(713) 639-4629 www.hmns.org 5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, Texas 77030 Monday through Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
H M N S S P I R I T S & S K E L E T O N S • G E N E R A L I N F O R M AT I O N
HALLOWEEN MIXER
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HMNS SPIES, TRAITORS, AND SABOTEURS: FEAR AND FREEDOM IN AMERICA
Spies, Traitors, and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America can be enjoyed by individuals, families and school groups.
August 24, 1814: The City of Washington Captured and the White House Burned
From the Revolutionary War in 1776 to the modern War on Terrorism— espionage, deception, treason and terror have played out on American soil. Created by the International Spy Museum in Washington DC, the special exhibition Spies, Traitors, and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America reveals accounts of domestic terrorists, foreign agents, militant radicals and saboteurs who have threatened America’s sense of security over the past 200 years.
July 30, 1916: Manhattan Hit by Massive Explosions in New York Harbor
The timeline of the exhibition traces over 170 incidents involving spies, traitors, and saboteurs. Nine major events and periods in U.S. history when Americans were threatened by enemies within its borders are examined with historic photographs and film footage, interactive displays and artifacts—many of which have never been on view prior to this exhibition, including fragments of the planes that hit the World Trade Center. Reproductions of dangerous hazardous items such as anthrax vials, pencil bombs, artillery rounds and extremist workrooms are also on display.
June 2, 1919: Anarchist Bombs Target American Leaders August 8, 1925: Ku Klux Klan Members Parade Down Pennsylvania Avenue December 7, 1941: American Helps Japanese Pilot Terrorize Hawaiian Island After Pearl Harbor Attack April 1945: Kremlin Launches one of the first Cold War Attacks against the U.S. March 1, 1971: Radical Group Explodes Bomb in the U.S. Capitol April 19, 1995: Massive Bomb Destroys the Federal Building in Oklahoma City Beyond September 11th: Terrorism Today
SHELL EDUCATORS’ PREVIEW Tuesday, September 29, 4 -7 p.m. RSVP starting September 1 to educatorpreview@hmns.org. DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “American Intelligence, The History and Evolution” Tuesday, October 6, 6:30 p.m. Tickets $18, Members $12 Dr. Vince Houghton, historian and curator of the International Spy Museum in Washington DC will trace US intelligence tactics used before the American Revolution to today’ scientific and technological intelligence. His talk will include traditional espionage (HUMINT – HUMan INTelligence— the “spies”), technical collection (SIGINT – SIGnals INTelligence, IMINT – IMagery INTelligence—spy planes, satellites, drones, the NSA), covert action (paramilitary action, assassination, propaganda, etc.), and counterintelligence (catching the other guys’ “spies”).
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www.hmns.org/exhibits
Spies, Traitors, and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America Opens September 25
HMNS SPIES, TRAITORS, AND SABOTEURS: FEAR AND FREEDOM IN AMERICA
How the government and public responded in these cases depicts the corresponding evolution of U.S. counterintelligence and homeland security efforts. The exhibition illustrates how responses to domestic attacks have driven counterintelligence measures that continue to affect our everyday lives, and also explores the challenge of securing our nation without compromising the civil liberties upon which it was founded.
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Photograph by Donald H. Biery,
HMNS OUT OF THE AMAZON: LIFE ON THE RIVER
OUT OF THE AMAZON: LIFE ON THE RIVER OPENS OCTOBER 23
Photograph by Michael Stuart
DISTINGUISHED LECTURES Sponsored by the Favrot Fund Tickets $18, Members $12
One of these tribes is the Pa'ikwené, which inhabit the border area of two countries, French Guyana and Brazil. The overall population in the early part of the 21st century is estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,600 individuals. The term Pa’ikwené means “people of the middle,” a reference to their homeland along the Middle River, called the Urucauá. They are also “people of the middle” in another sense: their strong sense of uniqueness and exclusivity seems to allow each individual one of them a feeling of importance and worth—of being, as a Pa'ikwené, right at the hub of things. The Pa'ikwené recount no fewer than six creation stories. One of these incorporates the world-wide theme of a great flood.
Out of the Amazon: Life on the River was organized by Adam Mekler, curator of HMNS’s vast ethnographic Amazonia collection.
MEMBERS EVENT Friday, October 23 6 - 10 p.m. Free for members
Children’s crafts, cash bar and refreshments. Reserve early—this event will sell out! Please call (713) 639-4629 for reservations.
In conversation with curator of anthropology Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Adam Mekler will share stories of everyday life among the rapidly disappearing indigenous groups of the Amazon Rainforest. Aspects of Amazonian cultures will be illustrated with beautiful images of rare tribal artifacts. “Amazonian Plant Biodiversity” Nancy Greig, Ph.D. Tuesday, October 27 6:30 p.m. Tickets $18, Members $12 The Amazonian basin has one of the highest diversities of plants in the world. Dr. Nancy Greig, director of the HMNS Cockrell Butterfly Center, will discuss reasons for this great biodiversity with vibrant images of particularly interesting Amazonian species. Following the lecture, the audience is invited to tour the Butterfly Center and Insect Zoo to view some living examples of plants and insects from the neotropical region.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR Out of the Amazon Tuesday, November 3, 6 p.m. Tickets $27, Members $17
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www.hmns.org/exhibits
Sharing the story of thirteen tribes, spectacular feather art and other rare artifacts are complimented by photographs, videos and animals that live side by side with these indigenous communities. Visitors are offered a glimpse of everyday life, as well as the spiritual beliefs and customs, among the rapidly disappearing indigenous groups of the Amazon Rainforest.
Unique to the Pa'ikwené culture is a conical helmet, open at the top and decorated with superimposed feathers. This headress functions as a seat for a protective spirit, one that will shield the wearer from ill-intentioned spirits.
“The People of the Rainforest” Adam Mekler and Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Ph.D. Thursday, October 15 6:30 p.m.
HMNS OUT OF THE AMAZON: LIFE ON THE RIVER
The Houston Museum of Natural Science has an unparalleled Amazonia collection. Priceless pieces of the collection—ceremonial objects, masks, body costumes, headdresses and more— are showcased in the new special exhibition Out of the Amazon: Life on the River.
HMNS AT S U FOSSIL WASH DAY
Saturday, September 19 9 a.m. - noon Free with Museum admission
H M N S H M N S AT S U G A R L A N D
Wash, rinse, repeat! You have an important role to play in this behindthe-scenes event, searching for bone fragments and objects of interest in dirt excavated from the HMNS dig site near Seymour, Texas. Join us for a morning of fun as we get messy, washing and sorting our stash of red Permian dirt. Discover these ancient creatures that roamed Texas – yes, even before your parents!
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The qualities that make a particular species unique, such as behavioral traits, movements, or appearance, are what attract the artist to his subject. His aim is to help the viewer learn about how an animal lives and interacts with its environment and other organisms. Expand your knowledge of paleontology as you learn how to identify fossil pieces, while washing and screening sediments. Watch paleontologists clean and prepare fossils at the Paleo Prep Station and bring your own fossils for identification.
SPECIAL EXHIBITION
Biodiversity in the Art of Carel Pieter Brest van Kempen Opens October 2 Free with Museum admission Brest van Kempen’s meticulously executed paintings in rich jewel tones explore the variety of nature and attest to the artist’s belief that chief among nature’s hallmarks is its diversity. This widely acclaimed exhibition consists of 50 original paintings and preparatory sketches inspired not just by the beauty of the subjects, but also by their fascinating ecology and habitat.
AFTER SCHOOL LEGO ROBOTICS
From Mesozoic fauna to present-day animals of the African plains, these paintings recapture our fascination for unusual species, helping us better appreciate their distinctive characteristics and habitats, as well as the vital role they play in nature.
Ten Wednesdays: September 9 - November 11 4:30 - 6 p.m. Our most popular summer camp is now available during the school year! Explore the basics of NXT Robotics Engineering to build models with the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXTTM system, and then use a computer to
U GAR L AND H M N S H M N S AT S U G A R L A N D
TRICKS, TREATS & T-REX Celebrate Halloween at HMNS Sugar Land and discover the scary side of science! Our annual Halloween Spooktacular returns for two days! Costumes encouraged both days. Museum-Wide Haunted House Friday, October 30 7 - 9 p.m. Step into the darkened Museum after hours on Friday night. Explore the horrors of Halloween on a flashlight tour of our Museum-Wide Haunted House with all-new thrills. Prowl every creepy corner, grab a soda and enjoy the history of this unique building and the ghosts that may still be haunting it. This special Halloween event is not for the faint-hearted or those afraid of things that go bump in the night! Best for those 7 years of age and up.
CORPORATE EVENTS AT THE MUSEUM LIMITED DECEMBER DATES AVAILABLE!
Impress your clients or wow your employees with a one-of-a-kind event! A space of astonishing beauty, rich in history, HMNS at Sugar Land provides a unique venue for corporate meetings, executive group retreats, team building, and evening receptions. Let our event specialists lead the group curriculum, or customize an evening gathering your guests will never forget. Costume Parade and Pumpkin Maze Saturday, October 31 10 a.m. - noon This spooky Saturday is complete with a children’s costume parade and magical Pumpkin Maze in the Butterfly Garden where you can wrap a mummy, snap a photo and try your hand at pumpkin ring toss. New tricks and treats await around each corner for every pirate and princess—it will be a boo bash to remember!
Several prime December weekend dates are still available for your cocktail reception, seated holiday dinner, or client appreciation event. HMNS at Sugar Land is also a great location for family celebrations, weddings and receptions. Visit the “Rent the Museum” page on www.hmns/sugarland or email abarker@hmns.org for more details.
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program your model to obey your every command! You and your partner will compete with other teams to finish challenges and earn the highest scores by the end of the course. Space is limited. Only at HMNS at Sugar Land!
Burke Baker Planetarium
H M N S B U R K E B A K E R P L A N E TA R I U M
ALSO SH OW IN G
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STARRY NIGHT EXPRESS TO PLUTO This fall in our Starry Night Express program, HMNS will begin touring you through the universe like you’ve never seen before. The Burke Baker Planetarium’s live show, Starry Night Express, has two new features: a new destination and a new image-generating computer system. In August, the Planetarium upgraded its image-generating system to Digistar 5, which contains the known universe in three-dimensional, real-time computer graphics. This is the first step in an upcoming upgrade of the entire theater. Our new destination is Pluto. The New Horizons spacecraft is still sending us higher resolution images from those it stored during its close encounter with Pluto last July. The most famous view is the heart-shaped bright region, measuring 1,200 miles across, that
reveals a vast, craterless plain that is possibly still being shaped by geologic processes. These strange irregular shapes may be caused by contraction of surface materials, similar to what happens when mud dries on Earth. They may also be a product of convection, similar to wax rising in a lava lamp. Another new close-up image taken near Pluto’s equator shows a mountain range with peaks jutting as high as 11,000 feet above the icy surface. These mountains are no more than 100 million years old, which is very young in our 4.5-billionyear-old solar system. With new real-time full-dome graphics and new information from Pluto, Starry Night Express to Pluto is a new experience every time you visit the Burke Baker Planetarium.
GEORGEOBSERVATORY
Saturday, September 19
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE Sunday, September 27
The moon will be above the horizon for the entire eclipse which begins at 7:11 p.m. and ends at 11:27 p.m. With clear skies, the entire lunar eclipse will be visible. The Observatory will be open from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
ASTRONOMY DAY 2015 Saturday, October 24 3 - 10 p.m.
The fun-filled stellar festivities begin in the afternoon and become even livelier after dark when the stars begin to shine.
Take a simulated space mission in the Expedition Center, view sunspots in the daytime through filtered telescopes, explore the numerous indoor displays, meet local astronomy clubs, learn how to purchase and use telescopes, hear astronomy presentations, participate in children’s crafts, receive a guided tour of the constellations from the Observatory deck, and peer through dozens of telescopes—even our large professional research telescopes. This family event is sponsored by local astronomy clubs, NASA organizations and the HMNS George Observatory. This event is free with Brazos Bend State Park entrance fee. For more information, visit www.astronomyday.net.
SATURDAYS AT THE GEORGE Enjoy seeing the stars and planets through a variety of large research grade Observatory telescopes every Saturday evening until 10 p.m. Gift Shop, exhibits and Discovery Dome open at 3 p.m. Telescope tickets go on sale at 5 p.m. Viewing begins at
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dusk. Telescope Tickets: $7, Members $4; Discovery Dome Tickets $3, Members $2.50.
DIRECTIONS & ADMISSION The George Observatory is located in Brazos Bend State Park (park entrance fee: $7, kids 12 and under free). Directions are posted at www.hmns. org/observatory. Current observatory weather conditions can be accessed at www.weatherbug.com, zip code 77461. Entrance to park is not permitted after 9:30 p.m.
www.hmns.org/observatory
Celebrate this annual day of recognition of our Moon at the George Observatory. Astronomers will have a variety of telescopes highlighting the Moon as well as other celestial objects, like Saturn this evening. Observatory will be open regular Saturday hours.
H M N S G E O R G E O B S E R VAT O R Y
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT
Films and showtimes may change. Please visit www.hmns.org
WORTHAM GIANT S
Sponsored by The H
JOURNEY TO SPACE 3D H M N S W O R T H A M G I A N T S C R E E N T H E AT R E
Opens October 1
NASA’s next era will be its greatest yet. That is the clear “roadmap” painted by Journey To Space. The film absolutely annihilates the perception that the space program died with the end of the Space Shuttle Program by showcasing the exciting plans NASA and the space community are working on, and the challenges they must overcome to carry out audacious missions such as landing astronauts on Mars and capturing asteroids. Journey To Space puts into historical context the magnificent contributions made by the Space Shuttle program and its intrepid space pioneers. It uses the most spectacular space footage— including unique views of Earth and operations in space—such as deploying and repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. The film goes on to show how the Shuttle launched and assembled the International Space Station (ISS). Together, these programs have taught us how to live, build and conduct science in space. The ISS will continue operating in space until 2024, and Journey To Space shows how it is building a foundation for the next giant leaps into space.
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ROBOTS 3D Opens October 1
On amazing tour of what's going on in robotics labs around the world, Robots is a sneak peek into the future as scientists use innovative engineering and design to make cyber characters less “humanoid” and more just plain human. Robots showcases the latest developments—the successes and the failures—of robotics around the world. All ages will enjoy this fascinating and fun look at what makes us human, how far machines can really go to look and act like us, and how humanoids are already changing our world.
Proceeds from the sale of all Wortham Giant Screen film tickets help further the
g for current schedule and more information about each film.
SCREEN THEATRE
Hamill Foundation.
N O W P L AY I N G
30 DAYS OF FAVES FILM FESTIVAL For the entire month of September, these popular 3D films are returning to the Giant Screen—in case you missed one the first time around or want to see a favorite again. Check www.hmns.org/giantscreen for show schedule.
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e Houston Museum of Natural Science’s nonprofit mission. Your support counts!
H M N S W O R T H A M G I A N T S C R E E N T H E AT R E
ENDS SEPTEMBER 30
HMNS WIESS ENERGY HALL
WIESS ENERGY HALL
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Providing a comprehensive overviews about how the energy industry works, Wiess Energy programs are recommended for new-to-theindustry and non-technical adults within the industry.
skills in a scenario-based project activity that utilizes the Wiess Energy Hall. Sessions are designed for groups of 16 - 40. $100 per person. Contact wiessenergy@hmns.org to schedule or inquire about smaller or larger groups.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR
ENERGY 101 ONLINE TRAINING
Wiess Energy Hall Tuesday, September 8 6 p.m. Tickets $20, Members $10 What makes Houston the Energy Capital of the World? This after-hours tour of the Wiess Energy Hall details the energy industry from geology through exploration, drilling, and refining. HMNS master docents will offer insight into the rapidly changing energy mix due to shale recovery and surging renewables.
TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY Enhance your department’s teamwork abilities while experiencing an overview of the geology, geography and politics of the oil and gas industry. This unique energy-industry-specific, half-day workshop emphasizes workplace communication and decision-making
This online course offers an extended look into the world of oil and gas, including hydrocarbon formation, geology, drilling, refining, products, transportation, distribution and alternative energy sources. A discount to attend “An Overview of the Energy Industry” at HMNS is included with the purchase of the online course. Available at www.energy101training.com.
EXHIBITION TOUR Tour the Wiess Energy Hall to explore the application of scientific concepts and advanced technology in the oil and gas industry. Learn the processes of energy development, from how oil and natural gas are formed to the ways in which various types of energy are used. To schedule a tour, contact wiessenergy@hmns.org or (713) 639-4737.
The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions.
Healthy soils play an important role in climate change mitigation by storing carbon, aka “carbon sequestration,” and decreasing global greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. If soils are managed poorly or cultivated through unsustainable agricultural practices, however, soil carbon can be released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide, which can contribute to climate change. Our soils are under increasing pressure. The steady conversion of grassland and forestland to cropland and grazing lands over the past several centuries has resulted in historic losses of soil carbon worldwide.
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Healthy soils are the basis for healthy food production.
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Soils are the foundation for vegetation which is cultivated or managed for feed, fiber, fuel and medicinal products.
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Soils support our planet’s biodiversity, hosting a quarter of all plant and animal species.
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Soils help to combat and adapt to climate change by playing a key role in the carbon cycle.
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Soil is a non-renewable resource; its preservation is essential for food security and our sustainable future.
“Terrior Wine Tasting, The Earth Science of Wine” Wednesday, October 7 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 2 7 p.m. Providing wines their unique flavor and aroma, the environmental conditions— especially soil and climate—will be analyzed in an unusual lesson in Earth science. Goût de terroir will be introduced by Bear Dalton, Spec’s veteran wine buyer. This look into the science and culinary history of wine will be hosted at Alliance Française de Houston. Space is limited. Cosponsored by Urban Harvest in conjunction with the International Year of Soils 2015 Tickets $45, Members $35 “Basic Organic Vegetable Gardening” Wednesday, September 9 10 a.m. Saturday, September 12 9 a.m. Learn the rewards and challenges of growing vegetables in Houston’s climate. Discover the best site for the garden, how to build it, what and how to plant, and the best methods to maintain and sustain a vegetable garden using organic methods. This is an excellent class for beginners, those who wish to brush-up on their gardening skills, or gardeners new to the Houston area.
“Backyard Composting” Wednesday, October 21 10 a.m. Saturday, October 24 9 a.m. Intertwined with soil fertility and texture, no other soil supplement can improve gardening results as well as compost. From basic bins to “vermicomposting” with worms, this class will prepare you to choose the methods of turning green waste into gardeners’ gold that work best for you and your garden. “Edible Landscapes” Wednesday, November 11 10 a.m. Saturday, November 14 9 a.m. The basics of good landscape design based on sound gardening principles and aesthetic beauty will be discussed— and how to accomplish this through the use of food plants, from traditional vegetable crops to edible flowers, fruit trees and more.
Symphony of the Soil Tuesday, December 1 6 p.m. Tickets $18, Members $12 The miraculous substance soil is a little appreciated complex and dynamic precious resource. Symphony of the Soil examines the elaborate mutually beneficial relationships between soil and the environment, our human relationship with soil, its use and misuse in agriculture, deforestation and development, and the latest scientific research on soil’s key role in easing the most challenging environmental problems of our time. Join John Anderson and Mike Serant of the Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance for the Texas premiere of Symphony of the Soil.
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By restoring degraded soils and adopting soil conservation practices, we create major potential to decrease the emission of greenhouse gases from agriculture, enhance carbon sequestration, and build resilience to climate change.
Soils store and filter water, improving our resilience to floods and droughts.
H M N S I N T E R N AT I O N A L Y E A R O F S O I L
Soils help to combat and adapt to climate change!
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H M N S C O C K R E L L B U T T E R F LY C E N T E R
Cockrell Butterfly Center’s Fall Plant Sale Saturday, September 26 9 a.m. - noon 7th floor of HMNS Parking Garage
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A great selection of butterfly nectar plants and caterpillar host plants, plus a few assorted tropicals, are available. The friendly and knowledgeable staff and docents of the Cockrell Butterfly Center will be on hand to answer your questions and help you pick the best butterfly attractors.
E VE N I NG S WI T H TH E O WLS EVENINGS WITH THE OWLS September 15 and 16 - Members Only September 18 and 19 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Tickets $12, Members $4 Who’s looking at you? It looks like an owl—but it’s an insect! The so-called “owl butterflies” are some of the largest and most distinctive species in the Butterfly Center. Their common name derives from the huge circular spots resembling owl eyes that adorn their hind wings. These dramatic eyespots are thought to deter predators, or perhaps provide a target well away from vulnerable body parts. The big, staring “eyes” are not their only similarity to owls. Like their namesake birds, these butterflies are “crepuscular”—in other words, they are most active during twilight periods. While during daylight hours owl butterflies mostly just sit still, or sip fermenting fruit juice from special feeders, at dawn and dusk they fly around like crazy bats (or owls)!
Come spend an evening with the “owls”at the Cockrell Butterfly Center this September! The Museum is bringing in large numbers of owl butterflies this fall, and giving our patrons the unique chance to experience their unusual behavior first hand. Marvel at the incredible sight of hundreds of owl butterflies as they whirl and tumble around the rainforest at twilight. Then learn more about them from our butterfly experts as you grab a bite to eat. Arts and crafts, food trucks and a cash bar available.
TIME TO GET GARDENING
Houston Bulb and Plant Mart Thursday, October 1 4:30 - 7 p.m. (early bird special) Friday, October 2 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, October 3 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. St. John the Divine Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd.
Fall’s cooler temperatures inspire gardeners to revive their gardens, which are often flagging after Houston’s torrid summer—and there are plenty of opportunities to shop for plants in the fall! Two of the best sources for butterfly gardeners are the Cockrell Butterfly Center’s Fall Plant Sale and the Garden Club of Houston’s Bulb and Plant Mart.
Bulbs, perennials, shrubs, vines, fruit trees, herbs and plants to attract butterflies—you’ll find a wide selection of plants suited for our climate at one of Houston’s biggest plant sales. The Garden Club of Houston uses proceeds from this sale to support several local endeavors, including the Cockrell Butterfly Center. Look for the HMNS butterfly gardening booth.
ADULT EDUCATION To register, visit www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR HMNS Offsite Collections Storage Mondays, October 5 and December 7, 1:30 and 6 p.m. Tickets $75, Members $55
DISTINGUISHED LECTURES Sponsored by the Favrot Fund Tickets $18, Members $12, unless otherwise noted
No other human invention has changed mankind more than writing. Explaining how writing began with man’s urge to capture ideas and thoughts in a physical form, Dr. Denise SchmandtBesserat of the University of Texas at Austin takes us on a human odyssey to discover how—from tokens to text—we found the “write” stuff. This lecture is cosponsored by AIA, Houston Society with support from Aramco. “How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction” Beth Shapiro, Ph.D. Evolutionary Biologist Wednesday, October 14, 6:30 p.m. Could extinct species, like mammoths, be brought back to life? The science says yes! Beth Shapiro, evolutionary biologist and pioneer in “ancient DNA” research, will present the astonishing and controversial process of de-extinction, which could redefine conservation’s
Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s leading archaeologist and director of excavations at Giza, Saqqara, Bahariya Oasis, and the Valley of the Kings excavation sites, will detail the world that existed around the pyramids, the lives of the workers who built them, and the court dignitaries who were granted the privilege of a burial place near that of their king. “Rock Art and Tribal Art in India” Jean Clottes, Ph.D., Archaeologist Thursday, October 22, 6:30 p.m. Leading authority on cave art, Jean Clottes studied tribes who continue to use traditional arts for protection and ceremonial purposes. Clottes will share how the persistence of age-old traditions in these local tribes have helped interpret the rock art and explain its deeper meanings. “Lives in Ruins: Archeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble” Marilyn Johnson, Journalist Monday, October 26, 2:30 p.m. What drives these archaeologists is not the money (meager) or the jobs (scarce) or the working conditions (dangerous), but their passion for the stories that would otherwise be buried and lost. Marilyn Johnson will offer an entertaining look at the lives of contemporary archaeologists as they sweat for clues to the puzzle of our past. Book signing following lecture.
PALEONTOLOGY & GEOLOGY WORKSHOPS Tickets $34, Members $24
Go behind-the-scenes in the Museum’s staff training lab where hundreds of specimens are uniquely presented in a hands-on road maps. Each workshop includes a tour of multiple exhibition halls. The instructor is geologist and paleontologist James Washington, HMNS staff trainer. Class size is limited.
Saturday, September 19 and Saturday, October 17
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“Introduction to Minerals: Origins, Classifications and Uses” 9 a.m. - noon
www.hmns.org/adults
“The Write Stuff - How Writing Began” Denise Schmandt-Besserat, Ph.D. Anthropologist Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 p.m.
“The Mystery of the Pyramids: Recent Discoveries” Zahi Hawass, Ph.D., Archaeologist Tuesday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. Tickets $60, Members $47
H M N S A D U LT E D U C AT I O N
Millions of artifacts and specimens are housed at the Museum’s offsite collections storage. See old favorites no longer on display and new acquisitions that have not been seen by the public yet. This truly behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum collections will be led by Lisa Rebori, HMNS VP of collections. Participants will meet at HMNS and ride in a van to the offsite facility. Minimum age is 12.
future. Shapiro will vividly explore the extraordinary cutting-edge science that is being used today to resurrect the past—along with its practical benefits and ethical challenges. Book signing following lecture.
“Geology, Plate Tectonics and Earth Science: Rocks, the Environments that Make Them and How Humans Use Them” 1 - 4 p.m.
Saturday, September 26 and Saturday, October 24 “Intro to Paleontology: From the Origin of Life to Dinosaurs (aka From bacteria to T. rex” 9 a.m. - noon “Paleontology After the Dinosaurs: Cenozoic the Age of Mammals” 1 - 4 p.m. Full description and times for each workshop available at www.hmns.org/ adults in Classes section.
FOR TEACHERS and Dissection. $200 per presentation (maximum 25 students), plus $75 travel fee for onsite presentations.
WEEKDAY
LABS
HMNS FOR TEACHERS
Coming to HMNS for a field trip? Try one of our Weekday Science Labs. These self-contained investigations feature Museum specimens, artifacts and laboratory equipment. Each lab is one hour long and includes admission to the Museum’s permanent exhibit halls.
www.hmns.org/education
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OCTOBER LAB TOPICS Earth Science Lab, Grades 1-8 “Layers of the Atmosphere” - Let’s take it from the top! In this lab, we’ll explore the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, and discuss how altitude, pressure and temperature change in our atmosphere. Time Lab, Grades 1-8 “Assyria and the Fertile Crescent” - Assyria was at the pinnacle of technological, scientific, and cultural achievements for its time in history. Discover the achievements of the Assyrians and explore the Fertile Crescent that they called home.
EDUCATOR GUIDE The 2015-2016 Educator Guide includes a wall calendar to help you organize, plan and remember the dates of our special educator events all year round. The Educator Guide has been sent out to those who attend our educator events. It is also available to download at www. hmns.org/education. You can also email educationquestions@hmns.org to sign up for our eblasts and mailing list.
SHELL EDUCATORS’ PREVIEW Spies, Traitors, and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America Tuesday, September 29 4 - 7 p.m. RSVP starting September 1 to educatorpreview@hmns.org Exhibition info on page 5.
LABS ON DEMAND Need help with a TEKS objective? Want a lab experience for your field trip? Each lab is tailored to your grade level. Topics Available: Chemistry, Force and Motion, Electricity, Light and Optics, Magnets, Storm Science, Ancient Egypt, Cells, Earth Science,
Available at HMNS in Hermann Park and HMNS at Sugar Land. Capacity is 25 students per lab. Cost per lab is $165 - $200. Visit www.hmns.org/ weekdaylabs for the Weekday Lab schedule for the 2015-2016 school year. SEPTEMBER LAB TOPICS: ConocoPhillips Technoscience Lab, Grades 1-8 “Magnets” - Investigate magnetic fields and electromagnets! Dissection Lab, Grades 5-10 “Not for the Squeamish” - Take a close look at the mammalian respiratory system as you dissect a sheep pluck, separating the lungs from the trachea and heart. Includes lung dissection. Wildlife Lab, Grades 1-8 “Bite Your Tongue” - Are giraffe tongues blue, black or purple? Are frog tongues really on backwards? Answer these questions as we study this important and often overlooked organ.
Wildlife Lab, Grades 1-8 “Polyp-palooza!” - Often confused for plants or rocks, coral beds are full of fascinating animals working together to support an incredible amount of lifeforms. Pay these polyps the attention they deserve in this wildlife lab. NOVEMBER LAB TOPICS ConocoPhillips Technoscience Lab, Grades 1-8 “Light” - Explore fluorescence, luminescence and color as we experiment with light. Dissection Lab, Grades 5-10 “Leaping Lizards” - Moths, roaches and beetles—yum! Discover a fascinating predator and local color changer, the anole. Includes lizard dissection.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND FOR ALL EDUCATORS PROGRAMS, VISIT WWW.HMNS.ORG/TEACHERS OR CONTACT EDUCATIONQUESTIONS@HMNS.ORG
Time Lab, Grades 1-8 “The Kingdom of Kush” - Experience the Kingdom of Kush—an ancient civilization in Africa, often referred to as Nubia. Kush was known for its skillful archers and had close ties to ancient Egypt.
EXXONMOBIL TEACHER TUESDAY WORKSHOPS
$30 per educator. Participants receive 3 hours of CPE credit. Dinner is provided. Adults only. HMNS FOR TEACHERS
Photo courtesy of Padre Island National Seashore
“Coastal Ecology” Tuesday, October 27 5 p.m. Oceans are an important resource. Discover the varied and amazing creatures that inhabit our own coastal areas. Includes activities on biomes and foodwebs.
“Dia de los Muertos – Tres” Tuesday, September 29 5 p.m. Explore Dia de los Muertos as you create new crafts to decorate your own altera and explore the varied rich cultural traditions that make this holiday so special. “The Rock Cycle with James Washington” Tuesday, October 20 5 p.m. Join James Washington, lead concierge and discovery guide, for an interactive journey through the rock cycle using hands-on specimens and his unique and exciting presentation.
Set off on a journey to explore the many wonders of this amazing resource and what it has to offer. Includes a tour of the Out of the Amazon exhibit.
EDUCATOR LATE NIGHT “Brain-based Learning” Friday, November 13 5 - 11 p.m. $60 per educator Everyone learns differently. Understanding these differences and learning to capitalize on them is hugely important in the 21st century classroom and workplace. Come discover engaging ideas to help you do just this. You will experience hands-on activities to use in your classroom, enjoy a catered dinner, and receive six hours of CPE credit. (Grades 1-6)
Bring the Museum to Your Classroom! Aligned to grade-level TEKS objectives, pricing ranges from $100 - $625. Presentations last 30 - 45 minutes, and multiple presentations may be scheduled in a day. Extended day, weekend and evening scheduling is also available. Special Science Night activity station packages are also available. For more information and scheduling: www.hmns.org/outreach, outreach@ hmns.org, (713) 639-4758. Choose from these HMNS Outreach Programs: Bugs On Wheels Wildlife On Wheels Chevron Earth Science On Wheels ConocoPhillips Science On Stage Discovery Dome Docents To Go Science Start
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“Out of the Amazon” Tuesday, November 3 5 p.m.
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
HMNS JUST FOR KIDS www.hmns.org/kids
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The Museum’s Scout Program offers a wide array of badges and classes for all ages of Boy and Girls Scouts on Saturdays throughout the school year. Go to www.hmns.org/scouts for the schedule. STEM / Nova Day Saturday, September 26 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Work on some of the requirements for the Supernova Awards with a fun day at the Museum! This STEM/Nova day at HMNS, in conjunction with the
Sam Houston Area Council, offers Cub Scouts, Webelos, Boy Scouts and their families access to the Museum at a discounted rate. Stop by the check in table in the Museum’s grand entrance hall when you arrive that morning to discover what requirements you can meet. Boy Scouts Overnight Friday, October 9 Tigers, Cubs, Bears and Webelos can spend a night at the museum! Visit www. hmns.org/scoutovernight for details.
BREAKFAST WITH DR. BAKKER
Saturday, November 7, 9 - 11:30 a.m. Tickets $40, Members $30 Treat your little fossil hunters to breakfast and a lecture with worldfamous paleontologist Dr. Robert T. Bakker. After breakfast on the Morian Overlook with a stunning view of the dinosaurs below, Dr. Bakker will give an entertaining presentation in the Moran Lecture Hall. Reserve your spot now! Children under 1 year admitted free. Adults must accompany children. For tickets, please call (713) 639-4629.
and perform entertaining chemistry and physics demonstrations for the summer camp classes.
During Xplorations summer camp, the Moran Ecoteens are exposed to a variety of mentoring opportunities. They may spend one week building robots and the next week handling insects. They give exhibit hall tours
The application period for the 2016 Moran Ecoteen Program opens December 1, 2015. Those interested in learning more can contact Marce Stayer, Moran Ecoteen director, at mstayer@hmns.org.
Outside the classroom, the Ecoteens interact with Museum patrons by explaining touch cart items and exhibit hall content. Their smiles are clear evidence of their enthusiasm toward science and learning.
Let HMNS handle all of the birthday party planning for you—the decorations, entertainment, craft project, party favors, and party coordinator. Party packages begin at $350. Themes: Dinosaur, Ancient Egypt, Butterfly/Bugs, Astronomy and Wildlife. Deluxe packages also available: Partysaurus, Winged Wonderland, Galactic Gathering. Visit www. hmns.org/birthdays for complete party planning info, including optional add-ons.
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Birthdays with a little Brain Power!
HMNS JUST FOR KIDS
The Moran Ecoteens are a special group of high school students whose love of science and natural history has brought them to HMNS as summer volunteers. The group spends time learning about all the amazing exhibits on display throughout our halls and sharing this knowledge with our Xplorations campers and with patrons throughout the Museum.
SEPTEMBER
HMNS EVENTS CALENDAR
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR Wiess Energy Hall Tuesday, September 8 6 p.m. (page 14)
www.hmns.org/museumcalendar
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HANDS-ON CLASS “Basic Organic Vegetable Gardening” Wednesday, September 9 10 a.m. Saturday, September 12 9 a.m. (page 15) COCKRELL BUTTERFLY CENTER EVENT “Evenings with the Owls” September 15 and 16 - Members Only September 18 and 19 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (page 16) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “The Write Stuff - How Writing Began” Tuesday, September 15 6:30 p.m. (page 17) ADULT PALEO-GEOLOGY WORKSHOPS “Introduction to Minerals” Saturday, September 19 9 a.m. - noon “Geology, Plate Tectonics and Earth Science” Saturday, September 19 1 - 4 p.m. (page 17)
GEORGE OBSERVATORY SKY EVENT International Observe the Moon Night Saturday, September 19 (page 11) HMNS AT SUGAR LAND FAMILY EVENT Fossil Wash Day Saturday, September 19 9 a.m. – noon (page 8)
COCKRELL BUTTERFLY CENTER FALL PLANT SALE Saturday, September 26 9 a.m. – noon (page 16) GEORGE OBSERVATORY SKY EVENT Total Lunar Eclipse Sunday, September 27 (page 11)
EXHIBITION OPENING Spies, Traitors, and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America Friday, September 25 (page 4) SCOUTS@HMNS STEM / Nova Day Saturday, September 26 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (page 20) ADULT PALEO-GEOLOGY WORKSHOPS “Intro to Paleontology” Saturday, September 26 9 a.m. - noon “Paleontology after the Dinosaurs” Saturday, September 26 1 - 4 p.m. (page 17)
EXXONMOBIL TEACHER TUESDAY WORKSHOP “Dia de los Muertos – Tres” Tuesday, September 29 5 p.m. (page 19) SHELL EDUCATORS’ PREVIEW Spies, Traitors, and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America Tuesday, September 29 4 - 7 p.m. (page 18)
HMN S M U S E U M S T O R E Carbon. Uranium. Tellurium. What's that spell? CUTE! From custom collars and leashes to adorable dog tees that will ensure your pet is the cutest one in the neighborhood, these one-of-a-kind products were designed exclusively for HMNS.
For tickets to all events, visit www
OCTOBER
HOUSTON BULB AND PLANT MART Thursday, October 1, 4:30 - 7 p.m. Friday, October 2, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (page 16)
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR HMNS Offsite Collections Storage Monday, October 5 1:30 and 6 p.m. (page 17) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE Spy Lecture Tuesday, October 6 6:30 p.m. (page 5)
SCOUTS@HMNS Boy Scouts Overnight Friday, October 9 (page 20) FAMILY FESTIVAL Earth Science Week Celebration cosponsored by HGS Saturday, October 10 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction” Wednesday, October 14 6:30 p.m. (page 17) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “The People of the Rainforest” Thursday, October 15 6:30 p.m. (page 7)
w.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.
EXXONMOBIL TEACHER TUESDAY WORKSHOP “The Rock Cycle with James Washington” Tuesday, October 20 5 p.m. (page 19) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “The Mystery of the Pyramids: Recent Discoveries” Tuesday, October 20 6:30 p.m. (page 17) ADULT HANDS-ON CLASS “Backyard Composting” Wednesday, October 21 10 a.m. (page 16) Saturday, October 24 9 a.m. (page 15) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “Rock Art and Tribal Art in India” Thursday, October 22 6:30 p.m. (page 17) ADULT PALEO-GEOLOGY WORKSHOPS “Intro to Paleontology: From the Origin of Life to Dinosaurs” Saturday, October 24, 9 a.m. - noon “Paleontology after the Dinosaurs: Cenozoic the Age of Mammals” Saturday, October 24, 1 - 4 p.m. (page 17)
MEMBERS EVENT Out of the Amazon: Life on the River Friday, October 23 6 - 10 p.m. (page 7) GEORGE OBSERVATORY Astronomy Day 2015 Saturday, October 24 3 - 10 p.m. (page 11) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “Lives in Ruins: Archeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble” Monday, October 26 2:30 p.m. (page 17) EXXONMOBIL TEACHER TUESDAY WORKSHOP “Coastal Ecology” Tuesday, October 27 5 p.m. (page 19) DISTINGUISHED LECTURE “Amazonian Plant Biodiversity” Tuesday, October 27 6:30 p.m. (page 7) HMNS AT SUGAR LAND FAMILY EVENT Museum-Wide Haunted House Friday, October 30 7 - 9 p.m. (page 9) HMNS AT SUGAR LAND FAMILY EVENT Costume Parade and Pumpkin Maze Saturday, October 31 10 a.m. – noon (page 9) HALLOWEEN MIXER Spirits and Skeletons Saturday, October 31 8 p.m. (page 3)
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www.hmns.org/museumcalendar
CULTURAL FEAST “Terrior Wine Tasting, The Earth Science of Wine” Wednesday, October 7 7 p.m. (page 15)
ADULT PALEO-GEOLOGY WORKSHOPS “Introduction to Minerals” Saturday, October 17, 9 a.m. - noon “Geology, Plate Tectonics and Earth Science” Saturday, October 17 1 - 4 p.m. (page 17)
EXHIBITION OPENING Out of the Amazon: Life on the River Friday, October 23 (page 6)
HMNS EVENTS CALENDAR
HMNS AT SUGAR LAND SPECIAL EXHIBITION OPENING Biodiversity in the Art of Carel Pieter Brest van Kempen Friday, October 2 (page 8)
FAMILY FESTIVAL International Archaeology Day cosponsored by HAS Saturday, October 17 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
POSTMASTER: Dated material enclosed. Please deliver IMMEDIATELY!
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HMNS NEWS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.HMNS.ORG/MAGAZINE HMNS activities are supported in part by funds provided by the City of Houston.
HMNS News (ISSN 1556-7478) is published bimonthly by the Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77030. Issues are sent every other month as a benefit to all Museum members. HMNS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve and advance the general knowledge of natural science, to enhance in individuals the knowledge of and delight in natural science and related subjects, and to maintain and promote a museum of the first class.
www.hmns.org/magazine
H M N S N E W S • SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 • VOLUME 20, NUMBER 5
5555 Hermann Park Drive Houston, Texas 77030
EXHIBITION OPENS SEPTEMBER 25 PAGE 4
OPENS IN WORTHAM GIANT SCREEN THEATRE OCTOBER 1 PAGE 12
OPENS IN WORTHAM GIANT SCREEN THEATRE OCTOBER 1 PAGE 12