Join us for the final Art & Culture Wednesday program of the summer when Museum Supervisor Lynne Richardson presents "Discover India."  India is a country many people find mysterious and complex.  During this program children will learn about India through pictures, music and a hands-on craft. 

Wednesday, August 17, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

$2 per student at the door, no pre-registration required

These programs will ignite your children's curiosity by presenting information and performing experiments relating to biological and physical sciences.  All programs will be facilitated by our Museum Educator.  It is recommended that children be of school age for this program.  Programs are held twice a month from 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

August 13: Human Body

August 27: Optical Illusions

FREE!  No pre-registration required

Spiders are unparalleled in the natural world by the many types of silks they spin.  In this lecture, Cheryl Hayashi, from U.C. Riverside, will introduce the basic biology of spider silk and share recent research on the genetics and biomechanics of silk.  Despite their gossamer appearance, spider silks have incredible mechanical properties, which rank them among the strongest and toughest materials known.  The study of spiders is leading to the development of multiple silk-inspired biomaterials for human use. 

Thursday, August 11, starting at Noon

Admission is FREE and beverages will be served 

"The San Andreas Fault and the Great California ShakeOut"

Kathleen Springer, Senior Curator in Geological Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum, will illustrate in her lecture that our region straddles the mother of all faults, the mighty San Andreas Fault.  This giant gash that slices through California is the boundary between two of the largest tectonic plates on the planet, which in turn makes our area one of the most geologically active regions in North America!  The ShakeOut scenario, a hypothetical earthquake designed by scientists to show what will happen when a major earthquake strikes Southern California, is intended to raise earthquake awareness and to motivate preparedness as well as participation in the "Drop, Cover and Hold On" drill that will occur at 10:20 a.m. on October 20, 2011, the day of the great California ShakeOut, a statewide annual drill - the largest earthquake drill in the United States. 

Thursday, August 25, starting at Noon

Admission is FREE and beverages will be served 

As part of the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council's HWY 62 Art Tours 2011, and in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Tours, the Hi-Desert Nature Museum is pleased to host the Art Tours Collective Show.  This dynamic exhibition will feature the artwork of many artists participating in the Open Studio Tours being held October 22-23 and October 29-30.  The HWY 62 Art Tours encompass all of the arts of the Morongo Basin during this two weekend celebration showcasing music, performance and honoring the best in visual arts.  The Open Studio Tours allows the visitor to experience working studios and purchase original art directly from the artists. 

Exhibit Opening Reception Friday,

September 9, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

FREE to the Public

On Display September 10 through November 5

Elizabeth and William Campbell were among the first to homestead in 29 Palms in the mid-1920s, and they quickly became leading members of the growing community.  Betty and Bill not only embraced their new lifestyle, but excelled in their chosen avocation, archaeology.  Betty, especially, made great contributions to the understanding of prehistory in the deserts of southern California and western Nevada, in addition to being a woman in a male-dominated field, and one whose fierce determination, superb scholarship, and life-long dedication to the field of archaeology have made lasting impacts on our understanding of life in the desert before the written record.  John Hale, archaeologist for the 29 Palms Marine Base, will share interesting stories and insights into the Campbells during this fascinating lecture.

Wednesday, September 7, starting at 5:30 p.m.

$5 donation to the MBHS at the door 

Saturday, October 1

Starry Nights Festival

1:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 15

Archaeopalooza!

Adventures in Archaeology

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 29

Halloween Spooktacular

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

The exploits of famous explorers inspired John Seely, a captain in the Bombay Native Infantry, to set out in 1810 on a perilous 300-mile route to see the spectacular cave temples of Ellora in India.  He traveled through country overrun by bandits, through jungles infested with tigers, over mountain passes, across unbridgeable rivers in temperatures in the hundreds and under constant threat of hostile natives and malarial mosquitoes.  He documented his journey, providing us with fascinating insights into the people and places, the habits and customs, of an Indian way of life that existed during the British Raj.  For protection, Seely traveled with a cavalcade of servants, armed escorts, cattle, and drivers.  There are 34 temples carved into the mountain of Ellora - Buddhist, Hindu and Jain.  Seely wrote of the site:

"But to conceive for a moment a body of men, however numerous, with a spirit however invincible, and resources however great, attack a solid mountain of rock, in most parts 100 feet high, and excavating, by the slow process of the chisel...appears beyond belief, and the mind is bewildered in amazement."