Press Release: State Museum of Pennsylvania Announces November Highlights | The State Museum of Pennsylvania Press Release: State Museum of Pennsylvania Announces November Highlights – The State Museum of Pennsylvania
Filed under 3rd in the Burg, Changing Exhibits, Events, Exhibit Opening, Exhibits, Military History, Planetarium, Press Releases, Visiting the Museum, We Are Astronomers	
On November 11, The State Museum will open Dressed for Service: Pennsylvanians in the Great War, a display that spotlights the contributions and sacrifices of six Pennsylvanians who volunteered for service during World War I. Located on the first floor of the museum, the display tells the volunteers’ stories of service through their uniforms, clothing and personal effects.
The children’s book Every Autumn Comes the Bear will be read in the museum’s Mammal Hall near the black bear diorama. The reading will be followed by an exploration of Mammal Hall and a hands-on activity with the animals in the book, including a black bear, raccoon, white-tailed deer and red fox. StoryTime is the museum’s popular reading series for children aged 3 to 5 and is included with general admission.
Museum educators will explore maps of Pennsylvania, from historic maps to road and topographic maps. Visitors can test their mapping skills with historic maps and trek across Pennsylvania in their socks. This presentation is designed for general audiences, ages 7 and up, and is included with general admission to the museum.	
Veterans Day Bell Ringing and Dress for Service: Pennsylvanians in the Great War Exhibit Opening, Sunday, November 11
The museum will host a Bells of Peace ceremony at 11:00 AM on the ground-floor outdoor promenade, adjacent to North Street, with the tolling of its full-size replica Liberty Bell, originally exhibited at the 1964 World’s Fair. This public event will coincide with other Bells of Peace ceremonies, a collaborative program that invites citizens and organizations across the country to toll bells in their communities 21 times on Veterans Day. The State Museum will host this event in conjunction with the United States World War I Centennial Commission.
At 12:00 noon the museum will open Dressed for Service: Pennsylvanians in the Great War, a display that spotlights the contributions and sacrifices of six Pennsylvanians who volunteered for service during World War I. Located on the first floor of the museum, the display tells the volunteers’ stories of service through their uniforms, clothing and personal effects. A uniform defines the wearer’s mission and provides a sense of belonging as well as unity of purpose and appearance.
In this program held in the Transportation and Industry Gallery, the museum’s youngest visitors will learn about Conestoga Wagons, about travel on historic road surfaces, how friction plays a part in speed, and which combination of racer, ramp and road surface makes for the fastest race. Curiosity Kids bridges the fun of Curiosity Connection with the wonders of The State Museum. Museum educators guide adults and their children, ages 3 to 6, on trips through history. Hands-on experiments in science and art offer enlightening views of the world. Curiosity Kids programs are included with general admission.
Holiday Marketplace Thursday, November 15, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM and Friday, November 16, 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission will host the Holiday Marketplace in the Village Square of The State Museum, featuring booths with Pennsylvania-themed gifts for sale from many of PHMC’s historic sites and museums, including Daniel Boone Homestead, Ephrata Cloister, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Somerset Historical Center and The State Museum.
Two new exhibits will be open: Innovative Means: Photography from the Collection, featuring fine art photographs spanning 80 years of innovations, and Dressed for Service: Pennsylvanians in the Great War, a display that tells the story of six Pennsylvanians’ service in World War I through their uniforms, clothing and personal effects. Holiday Marketplace also will be open with Pennsylvania-themed gifts for sale from Daniel Boone Homestead, Ephrata Cloister, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Somerset Historical Center and The State Museum. This event is free as part of 3rd in the Burg.
The Planetarium at The State Museum of Pennsylvania: The planetarium is offering two shows from September 5 through November 25:
STARS (Grade 4 and up), Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11:00 AM; Saturday, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM; Sunday, 1:00 PM
Every star has a story. Some stars are as old as time, faint and almost forgotten. Others burn bright and end their lives in powerful explosions. Through every phase of their existence, stars release the energy that powers the Universe. This program, narrated by Mark Hamill, travels to the furthest reaches of our galaxy and reveals both the awesome beauty and destructive power of stars
We Are Astronomers (Grade 4 and up), Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 1:00 PM; Saturday, 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM; Sunday, 2:00 PM
This exciting show reveals the global collaboration, technology and dedication required to answer the unresolved questions of the Universe. The show, narrated by David Tennant, explores how astronomers use the electromagnetic spectrum to study the Universe, features astronomers discussing the challenges they face in sharing and storing data, and gives an up-close look at new technologies like the James Webb Telescope and the Large Hadron Collider.
Planetarium shows are $3 per person in addition to general admission. Members of the State Museum Affiliate and the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation are admitted free.
November Museum Closures: The State Museum and Planetarium will be closed Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 24 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & 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 eras, 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 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Admission is $7 for adults (ages 12-64), $6 for senior citizens (ages 65 and up), and $5 for children (ages 1-11).
The State Museum has joined other museums across the country in Museums for All. This program enables low-income families to visit participating museums for a nominal fee of $2 per person with the presentation of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and identification. This offer is for general admission only and excludes special programs or events.