Campus Life

Springtime 'Night at the Museums' brings visitors closer to nature, history

The Pennsylvania State University Herbarium (PAC)'s collection includes plant samples from throughout history, including some samples collected by the University's founding President Evan Pugh in Europe prior to World War II. Select samples were laid out for viewing during the event. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Night at the Museums event showcased several campus sites in the early evening hours. Several specialized museums kept their doors open from 4-8 p.m. April 25 to welcome visitors of all ages and show off their collections, from preserved flowers and insects to historical machinery. The event, sponsored by the Penn State Museum Consortium, occurs once a semester.

Third-year student McRae Wierderer leans over a microscope to survey plant samples and preserved insect eggs at the Pennsylvania Agricultural College (PAC) Herbarium. The herbarium, along with other museum sites, were open for extended hours during the Night at the Museums event to allow visitors who can't make it during regular daytime hours. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

The herbarium's collection includes plant samples from throughout history, including some samples collected by the University's founding President Evan Pugh in Europe prior to World War II. Select samples were laid out for viewing during the event. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Armsby Respiration Calorimeter Museum opened its doors during evening hours for the event. Visitors could explore the historic site and ask questions about its machinery, which was designed and used in the past to monitor an animal's metabolism. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

The calorimeter was used to observe both animals and humans in scientific experiments to determine metabolistic processing. The machine was last used in 1960, but it was later restored and now serves as a historic site. Visitors during the Night at the Museums event could get an up-close look at its parts and learn about how it's been used throughout history. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery also opened its doors during the event. Visitors could pick up a geographical map of Pennsylvania and peruse special exhibits, including a look at natural stones and minerals that share Penn State's blue and white colors. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

Senior Morgan E. Riley, who majors in history, shows off an exhibit she helped to research and assemble within the EMS Museum and Art Gallery. The exhibit looks at historical artifacts from Pennsylvania and describe their uses. "I'm from Philly, so it's kind of local to me," Riley said about the exhibit. "I can feel really close to it." Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

Third-year student McRae Wierderer leans over a microscope to survey plant samples and preserved insect eggs at the Pennsylvania Agricultural College (PAC) Herbarium. The herbarium, along with other museum sites, were open for extended hours during the Night at the Museums event to allow visitors who can't make it during regular daytime hours. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

The herbarium's collection includes plant samples from throughout history, including some samples collected by the University's founding President Evan Pugh in Europe prior to World War II. Select samples were laid out for viewing during the event. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Armsby Respiration Calorimeter Museum opened its doors during evening hours for the event. Visitors could explore the historic site and ask questions about its machinery, which was designed and used in the past to monitor an animal's metabolism. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

The calorimeter was used to observe both animals and humans in scientific experiments to determine metabolistic processing. The machine was last used in 1960, but it was later restored and now serves as a historic site. Visitors during the Night at the Museums event could get an up-close look at its parts and learn about how it's been used throughout history. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery also opened its doors during the event. Visitors could pick up a geographical map of Pennsylvania and peruse special exhibits, including a look at natural stones and minerals that share Penn State's blue and white colors. Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

Senior Morgan E. Riley, who majors in history, shows off an exhibit she helped to research and assemble within the EMS Museum and Art Gallery. The exhibit looks at historical artifacts from Pennsylvania and describe their uses. "I'm from Philly, so it's kind of local to me," Riley said about the exhibit. "I can feel really close to it." Credit: Taylor Haggerty / Penn State. Creative Commons

Last Updated April 30, 2024

Tags