The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science marked its 40th anniversary with free theater and planetarium shows, hands-on activities and giveaways
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An Albuquerque museum celebrated 40 years of bringing lessons in natural history and science to New Mexico this week.
Saturday was the official 40th anniversary celebration for the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, and guests were invited to partake.
The museum offered free shows at the 3D DynaTheater and the planetarium, as well as hands-on activities and giveaways for children.
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“We have over 110,000 objects,” said Shannon Bay, deputy director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
These objects “tell the story of New Mexico,” she said, from “fossils that are from 500 million years ago to bioscience specimens that are, of course, more recent.”
“Museums — the longer they’re around, of course — are able to build a collection like we have,” she said.
“Being able to see the real object is real important,” she said, “rather than just a picture.”
The museum’s true birthday was earlier this year, but renovations pushed off the party.
“The museum originally opened Jan. 12, 1986,” said Bay.
