Our first two stops once inside the museum included the Space Odyssey and the Gems and Minerals exhibit. Taylor loved the hands-on learning moments in the space discovery areas. She dressed up like an astronaut, played with huge telescopes, watched an interactive demo on the planets orbiting the sun and tried her hand at "landing" robot replicas of the moon Rovers. She thought that was way cool.
Taylor poses with Mr. T. Rex at the entrance of
the museum. There were dinosaur skeletons
to admire throughout the museum.
the museum. There were dinosaur skeletons
to admire throughout the museum.
My favorite exhibit turned out to be the Gem and Minerals display. Wow! I knew a little bit about the history of mining in Colorado, but I never knew about all of the wondrous things that have been discovered. Like the list of beauties below:
This red chunk of rhodochrosite was almost the size of my head.
Seriously.
This wall of rhodochrosite was found in a mine in Colorado.
Taylor loved this treasure.
This wall of gypsum crystals was the first thing we saw as we
entered the exhibit.
This red chunk of rhodochrosite was almost the size of my head.
Seriously.
This wall of rhodochrosite was found in a mine in Colorado.
Taylor loved this treasure.
This wall of gypsum crystals was the first thing we saw as we
entered the exhibit.
Tom’s Baby, an eight-pound nugget of crystallized gold unearthed in Breckenridge in 1887.
Here's my favorite display--huge chunks of aquamarine.
It's my birthstone and also, as I found out, the state gem of Colorado.
It's my birthstone and also, as I found out, the state gem of Colorado.
After such a dazzling start to our museum tour, it was time to divide and conquer. John and Taylor went to see an IMAX movie. I turned down the offer, intending to stop by the Native American artifacts exhibit on the second floor. My hopes were dashed when I came to the entrance of the exhibit and was told that it was closed to the public for a private party. Grrrrr!!! The one exhibit I really wanted to see! Of all the luck.
I eventually regrouped and spent time looking at the animal dioramas that take up much of the second floor. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'd much rather see live animals at the zoo than spend time looking at dead ones behind glass. What can I say? I apparently don't appreciate the fine art of taxidermy. The time did pass, and after meeting back up with John and Taylor for a snack, it was time to finish viewing the rest of the museum displays. Here's another run of photos that log our time in the museum.
A poor Egyptian woman mummy.
I eventually regrouped and spent time looking at the animal dioramas that take up much of the second floor. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'd much rather see live animals at the zoo than spend time looking at dead ones behind glass. What can I say? I apparently don't appreciate the fine art of taxidermy. The time did pass, and after meeting back up with John and Taylor for a snack, it was time to finish viewing the rest of the museum displays. Here's another run of photos that log our time in the museum.
A poor Egyptian woman mummy.
Apparently in the very early 1900's, a person could go to Egypt,
raid a tomb and purchase the mummy inside. For a price, you could also ship it back to the states
and ensconce it in your parlor for an interesting conversation piece. Crazy.
Dead sheep. ;)
More dead sheep! ;)
This exhibit raised a few eyebrows and a few questions from Taylor.
Notice the, uh, intact males. I believe the best explanation I could
come up with involved cantaloupes...
More dead sheep! ;)
This exhibit raised a few eyebrows and a few questions from Taylor.
Notice the, uh, intact males. I believe the best explanation I could
come up with involved cantaloupes...
Taylor had a good time mimicking the various poses animals were in.
We stopped outside the museum to get yet another bear pose,
this time with the coveted bag of rocks. :)
After completing the tour of dead animals, we made a last stop downstairs in the gift shop. Taylor picked up a bag of polished stones and gems to add to her collection at home. Every year at Halloween she brings home stones and crystals that our neighbor geologist hands out instead of candy. She's amassing quite a collection.
We stopped outside the museum to get yet another bear pose,
this time with the coveted bag of rocks. :)
She's contemplating a run for it!
At the end of the day, we stopped outside the museum to cool off by the fountains in the park. The place was buzzing with people. Some outside to enjoy the day, others there to begin readying the place for the Democratic National Convention. After relaxing for a bit, it was time to head home. After all, the morning would bring Taylor's seventh birthday and we had a lot of getting ready to do!
Kristin
Kristin