State Museum invites families to experience a night at the museum

The South Carolina State Museum is giving families a chance to experience a night at the museum, Friday May 27 through Saturday, May 26. Guests will get to explore the entire museum with a variety of programs geared toward astronomy. The evening will also include special shows in the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Planetarium, the Rev. Dr. Solomon Jackson, Jr. 4D Theater and a night under the stars in the Boeing Observatory as they explore constellations, planets, the moon and more.

Activities during the event include learning the distance between the planets and the sun during an astronomy activity with real astronomers and State Museum educators. Guests will also get to design, engineer and launch their very own rockets. The Boeing Observatory will be open late so guests can work with museum astronomers while looking through the historic 1926 Alvan Clark telescope to explore the evening sky. Guests can explore deep space in a special live, seasonal planetarium skytour. All participants will enjoy a pizza dinner, sponsored by Little Caesars Pizza.

Saturday morning guests will enjoy a light continental breakfast followed by a special morning showing of Rio: The 4D Experience. After, the Cotton Mill Exchange will be open for guests to shop for souvenirs to remember their experience at the State Museum.

Guests will need to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, any necessary medications, and an overnight bag with pajamas and toiletries. Overnight participants will get to choose their own sleeping areas upon arrival and will sleep among museum exhibits. Two floors will be reserved for women or men only and two floors will be co-ed floors reserved for families.

Friday night check-in is from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and lights-out is at 11 p.m. Saturday morning wake-up time is 6:30 a.m. and departure is at 9 a.m. Overnight education staff and security will be on hand.

Tickets are $35 per person for public and $28 per person for members.  Space is limited and reservations are required.  Guests should call(803) 898-4999 or email [email protected] to reserve a space today.

About the South Carolina State Museum

As the state’s largest and most comprehensive museum, the South Carolina State Museum offers a unique, entertaining and educational experience to visitors throughout its 225,000 square foot facility located in the heart of downtown Columbia’s Congaree Vista.  The State Museum is housed in one of its largest artifacts, an 1894 old textile mill full of character and charm.  Guests can explore outer space in one of the largest planetariums in the Southeast, watch an interactive 4D movie and look through a vintage telescope in a one-of-a-kind observatory. These opportunities are all in addition to the four floors of South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history and science/technology. Visit scmuseum.org to learn more.