FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEWIS & CLARK: THE NATIONAL BICENTENNIAL EXHIBITION JOURNEYS TO THE DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE
May 6─August 21, 2005
DENVER—Fascinating descriptions of the American landscape 200 years ago, inspiring Native American tribes and traditions, thundering herds of buffalo, daunting waterfalls, towering snow-capped mountains in the Rocky Mountain West — the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804─1806) is a history lesson that rekindles the spirit of discovery and adventure in all of us. It helped shape the America we know today. From May 6–August 21, 2005, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science will recognize this landmark transcontinental journey of exploration by hosting Lewis & Clark: The National Bicentennial Exhibition, presented in Denver by the Qwest Foundation.
More than 600 rare and priceless national treasures ─ period art, American Indian objects, journals, scientific equipment, maps, documents and plant specimens ─ will provide opportunities for Museum visitors to recognize and appreciate the significance of early American cultural encounters and the wealth of scientific and cultural knowledge recorded during the journey. Highlights include a letter of credit from Thomas Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis; Clark’s handwritten, illustrated, elkskin-bound field journal; a ceremonial headdress made from the skin of a sacred white buffalo; and William Clark’s telescope, now owned by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
“The importance of this exhibition cannot be overemphasized,” said Joyce Herold, curator of ethnology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. “Through an astonishing array of rare early documents and objects, it takes us to central places and events along the American Journey. We are unlikely ever again to see such inclusive and authoritative views of the explorer-land-Indian encounter!”
John Emhoolah, chairman of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Native American Resource Group who has been involved with the Museum for over 30 years, echoes the sentiment. “I believe that this exhibition is extremely relevant to everyone in the Rocky Mountain Region and people all over the world. It talks about the historical events that changed the West and the lives of many Native Americans.”
Museum visitors may enhance their experience by viewing the IMAX film Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West; exploring the Museum’s permanent exhibits in Crane North American Indian Hall, including an exhibit showcasing the Museum’s distinguished peace medal collection; and visiting the permanent wildlife dioramas.
Credits
Presented in Denver by Qwest.
This exhibition has been made possible through the generous support of Emerson. Additional support provided by the National Park Service and the State of Missouri.
Organized by the Missouri Historical Society. Presented in partnership with the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the American Philosophical Society, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the Oregon Historical Society, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Exhibition Tickets
Members: Free
Nonmember adults: $15 (includes Museum admission) Nonmember seniors (ages 65+): $10 (includes Museum admission)
Nonmember juniors (ages 3–18): $6 for Museum admission, no exhibition surcharge
School groups: $3.50 per student; one adult chaperone per 10 students receives free admission
An audio tour is available on a first-come basis.
Museum/IMAX and Museum/Planetarium combination tickets and upgrades are available.
For complete information, visit www.dmns.org or call 303.322.7009.
Location and Hours
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205
www.dmns.org
The Museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.
Museum Shop
A wide selection of items specifically chosen to complement this exhibition will be available at a special exhibition shop. Items include the stunning 424-page exhibition catalog produced by Smithsonian Books and the Missouri Historical Society, traditional Sioux jewelry, and DVDs and videos related to the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Cultural Venues Hosting the Lewis and Clark Exhibition
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the third venue for the exhibition, following presentations at the Missouri History Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. After Denver, the exhibition will travel to the Oregon Historical Society in Portland (November 2005─March 2006) and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC (May 2006─September 2006).
Size of the Lewis and Clark Exhibition and Museum Shop in Denver
Exhibition: 11,200 square feet
Museum Shop: 1,100 square feet
Teacher Resources and Family Guide
A “Back to School with Lewis & Clark” CD-ROM featuring a curriculum for grades four through 12 and the virtual exhibition funded by the Qwest Foundation is available free of charge to educators. For more information, please visit www.BackToSchoolWithLewisAndClark.org or plan on attending Educator’s Night at the Museum on March 7, 2005. A guide for Museum field trips (including pre and post-visit curriculum) can be found at www.dmns.org. A Family Guide with fun activities for parents and children will be available for visitors.
Web site
Go to www.dmns.org to view exhibition specifics and to find a link to the Lewis & Clark: The National Bicentennial Exhibition Web pages created by the Missouri Historical Society and Terra Incognita Productions. The site includes an online virtual experience, several artifacts from the Corps of Discovery expedition, extensive curriculum units for elementary school, middle school, and high school educators, and registration for monthly online Lewis and Clark updates.
Parents, students and teachers can also find a link to the “Back to School with Lewis & Clark” Web site, where they can learn how different Lewis & Clark’s journey would have been with today’s technology. Teachers, librarians and other educators can also order CD-ROMs that include a virtual tour of Lewis & Clark: The National Bicentennial Exhibition and a Lewis & Clark curriculum for grades four through 12.
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DMNS-05-007
Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by generous funding from the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).
