SUGAR LAND — Museums exist to inspire wonder and facilitate creative thought. Given our curious natures and our innate desire to collect, it is no wonder the grand modern museum has its humble roots firmly planted in the privately-owned collections of extraordinary objects from the past. These collections, called wonder-chambers or wunderkammern in German-speaking Europe, were gathered by noblemen and scholars, as well as warriors and explorers, who were fueled by a growing interest in human and natural history.
Imagine you are invited into the home of one of these collectors and visit themed galleries, containing 90 drawers filled with thousands of objects, dedicated to the curious, the strange and the inexplicable through Collection of History, Mystery and Wonder—a new special exhibition now open at the Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land.
“Collections were used as a vehicle to showcase the extent of the natural philosopher’s learning and knowledge for others to see and appreciate,” said Adrienne Barker, Director and Chief Development officer at HMNS Sugar Land. “The impulse to share these collected wonders with others gave birth to this movement and ultimately to the museums as we now understand them.”
Highlights of the collection include: life sized animals; arms and armor replicas from Rome; an Egyptian chair; shark jaws; African masks; beautifully crystalized mineral specimens; stone tools; historical microscopes and electronic equipment; spectacular mounted butterflies and shells; and so much more.
Explore Collection of History, Mystery and Wonder at your own pace, as you uncover rare treasures and get hands-on with what’s on the shelves. In our family-friendly space for all ages, when we say “Do Touch,” we mean it! We learn by touching, and in these discovery galleries, there are no boundaries to your imagination! “Curious Tours” with expert docents are available on weekends.
Admission to Collection of History, Mystery and Wonder is a separate ticket and includes entrance to the permanent exhibit halls. For tickets or more information, visit www.hmns.org/sugarland or call (281) 313-2277.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land —On Oct. 3, 2009, a historic prison building in the residential community area of Telfair opened to the public, transformed as the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land. This satellite facility of HMNS includes five permanent galleries reflecting the most popular exhibit areas of the downtown Museum location. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the 43,000 square foot building and the surrounding 5.5 acres of land that house the museum present a variety of compelling traveling exhibitions. Located at 13019 University Blvd. (at the corner of University and New Territory Blvds.), a visit to HMNS at Sugar Land is always an adventure.
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