6–6:30 p.m. Live performance of old miners' movement songs from Appalachia by Joe Uehlein. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Panel discussion The history of Appalachia is tightly bound to the history of coal, and the material and sentimental attachments to this history presents a predicament for the environmental movement. On one hand, the history of coal is a […]

Join us in investigating the creepy and awesome creatures that call the museum home! Meet live animals, learn spooky facts about our tarantula, and enjoy a Halloween movie on the big screen! Trick-or-treat around dinosaurs and mummies at stations throughout the museum and wear a costume* to receive a small prize! *Please, no masks, weapons, […]

2–3 p.m. Screening of animated film Fire Underground 3–4 p.m. Panel discussion with artist/filmmaker SCREENING Fire Underground is an animated film by artist Nick Crockett, built in a game engine, which presents an alternative version of the 300 million year history of coal. Hovering between homage and parody, fantasy and documentary, cinema and simulation, it […]

Help your students contribute to science! Join us at Powdermill Nature Reserve, the Environmental Research Station of Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Rector, PA as we explore different tools to observe and sample biodiversity in natural landscapes. Learn techniques for recording and analyzing nature observations in the woodlands surrounding Powdermill, and sketch with pencil […]

Speaker: Eric Dorfman, Director, Carnegie Museum of Natural History STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) is an exciting update on traditional teaching methods that fosters innovation through cross-pollinating the minds of scientists with those of artists. For museums, which engage in both formal and informal learning, STEAM offers a compelling model for future development. […]

Speaker: Christopher Tracey Western Pennsylvania Conservancy The biodiversity found within the United States is the foundation of our country's economic, ecological, and cultural wellbeing. Although government agencies and land trusts have made enormous progress at conserving natural areas, to date only about 13% of our nation's land area is formally protected. Many species and ecosystems […]

Owl Prowl “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” Well, no one, if you’re an owl! Come learn who asks that question and more as we explore owls native to Pennsylvania. Then we will go prowling the woods for owls! Bring your binoculars, warm clothes, and good walking shoes for this fun adventure.

Explore new ways your students can contribute to science and learn to identify plants and animals. Go behind-the-scenes with museum scientists to learn how collections and live specimens help in studying diversity, and discover hands-on activities that are ready to use in your classroom. A visit to the exhibit 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs, on loan […]

Speaker: Heather Hulton VanTassel Carnegie Museum of Natural History Come meet Dr. Hulton VanTassel, our new Assistant Director of Science and Research. Heather will tell her story of her professional journey to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in the context of how she has been striving to move conservation forward and how her career […]

Solve clues to find treat-filled eggs hidden in the museum! This egg hunt is a crowd favorite and allows you to enjoy our exhibits at your own pace, play in Discovery Basecamp, and meet live animals. The Egg-cellent Egg Hunt is ideal for children 3–10 years old. Scavenger hunt maps and prizes are available on […]