A Living Museum: A History of the Land at Powdermill Nature Reserve The land at Powdermill has a long history even before the establishment of the nature reserve in 1956. Pamela Curtin, Education Coordinator at the Westmoreland Historical Society, will share an historical overview of Powdermill and how people have used the landscape over time. […]

From Wednesday, October 16, to Sunday, October 20, iNaturalist users around Carnegie Museums and Powdermill Nature Reserve can compete with students working with museum herpetologist Jen Sheridan on the other side of the world in Sabah, Malaysia! Any observations made in Allegheny or Westmoreland County October 16 through 20 will count towards Pittsburgh’s totals. Let’s […]

Speaker: Jeffrey M. Marcus University of Manitoba The Marcus laboratory studies the genomic origins, development, evolution, and diversification of butterfly and color patterns, with a particular focus on the buckeye butterflies (genus Junonia). This system is a wonderful model for understanding butterfly biology because it permits the integrated study of phenotypic traits at many levels […]

Tales and Trails: Halloween at Powdermill Explore the spooky side of Powdermill in the evening at this family-friendly Halloween event! Drop in anytime between 5 and 8 pm to see how apple cider is made, listen to a fireside ghost story, decorate a pumpkin, and even meet animals from the museum’s living collection! Please note […]

Learn about the field of archaeology at Carnegie Museum of Natural History! Participate in a mock dig and help prepare an archaeological exhibit for display. Learn about the traditional dwellings, clothing, and crafts of the Iroquois in the Alcoa Foundation Hall of American Indians. Merit Badge pre-requisites: Archaeology 4 and 5 Merit Badge requirements met […]

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 […]