Satisfy your science curiosity in a safe environment during our SCFD Free Days and Free Nights. Explore exhibitions, catch a Planetarium show or see a special performance or activity.
Museum open until 9 on most Fridays
Can't make it to the Museum during the day? Come for an evening visit during Friday Evening Hours! The Museum is open until 9 p.m. and admission prices remain the same. As always, admission is free for our members. We look forward to kicking off the weekend with you.
- Designed For
- Everyone
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Halloween Member Movie & Lecture Night: “Arachnophobia" (21+) with Dr. Paula Cushing
Wednesday, Oct. 30
6 p.m.
Members, are you ready for a night of cinema, scares and science?
Join us for a Halloween Member Movie & Lecture Night at the Boo-seum! We’ll be hosting a screening of 90’s thriller “Arachnophobia” in our giant screen Infinity Theater! The film will be preceded by a happy hour and 30-minute lecture with Dr. Paula Cushing, Senior Curator of Invertebrate Zoology:
An arachnophiliac discusses Arachnophobia. What is wrong with this picture? You decide. Senior Curator of Invertebrate Zoology and arachnologist, Dr. Paula Cushing, will give you enough good information about spider biology to make the comedy/horror movie Arachnophobia funnier and more horrible for all the wrong reasons.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. for happy hour and the program will begin at 7 p.m.. Come before the film to enjoy a spooky treat and drinks from our cash bar! Please bring your membership card or eCard when you visit the Museum for the film screening.
Giving Club and Young Professional Members receive a complimentary drink ticket and access to an exclusive social hour in the ‘Edge of the Wild’ Diorama Hall from 6-7pm. Collect your drink tickets in front of the diorama featuring the mascot of Colorado State University!
Please note that this event is 21+.
Tickets required: $12 adult member, $10 senior member
- Please enter through the main entrance on the north side of the building.
- Doors will open at 6 p.m.
- Happy hour from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.; lecture and film begin at 7 p.m.
- Please bring your member card for Museum entrance and your ticket to the Infinity Theater film.
- Concessions will be available for purchase.
- All sales are final unless the Museum cancels the event.
No walk-up tickets available; event subject to selling out. Only the Infinity Theater will be open during the event; the rest of the Museum will be closed.
- Admission
- Special Ticket Required
- Designed For
- Adults
- Seniors
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Saturday
November 16, 2024
10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Did you know that every time you enjoy a meal of chicken, duck, or turkey, you are actually enjoying some delicious dinosaur? That’s right - every bird alive today, from ostrich to oriole, pigeon to penguin, are descendants of theropod dinosaurs like T.rex and Velociraptor. But how did this change occur? What clues do scientists look for? Find out during this talk with Museum paleontologists and ornithologists as they explore evolution with fossils, natural history collections, and more. Your questions will guide our exploration and will ensure that you never look at a chicken nugget the same way again!
- Designed For
- Families
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Spring Science Camp
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., daily
Grades K–1, Grades 2–3, & Grades 4–5
5-day Camps
March 24th to 28th
Looking for something amazing for your kids to do during school breaks? At the Museum, your child will experience fun and wonder, see Infinity Theater and planetarium shows, and explore the marvels of our temporary exhibitions. Each day will be something new as we bring together our favorite camp themes and activities for 2025 Spring Science Camp! Camps offered for grades K – 1, 2 – 3, and 4 – 5.
Online enrollment for Spring Science Camps opens in October! Scholarship registration is by phone only, call Guest Services at 303.370.6000, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission
- Special Ticket Required
- Designed For
- Children
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Wednesday, October 30
7 p.m.
Ricketson Auditorium
FREE
No reservations required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Explore breaking space news with space scientists and hear the latest updates on missions exploring the solar system, rocket launches, cutting edge astronomy, and more.
This evening's presentation is by Curator of Space Sciences Dr. Ka Chun Yu.
Please use the West Entrance of the Museum.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Thursday, October 31, 2024
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
$25 Member / $35 Nonmember
Ages 21+
Spooky Season is upon us, and that can only mean one thing --- time to Pick Your Poison at the Science Lounge Halloween Bash! We’ve scoured the collections for the creepiest, the crawliest, and the spookiest specimens for you to peruse – so gather your “boo” crew, bring your best “ghoul”, and dress to impress at our Halloween Bash!
What is Science Lounge?
Science Lounge transcends the everyday Museum experience and gives you a chance to wander our hallowed halls after dark, learning with libations in hand! If you’re looking to spice up your science learning, Science Lounge gives you a chance to be a kid at the Museum again (without the kids around)! We're the perfect pick for a sober Halloween experience as well - we'll have mocktails and non-alcoholic options available for all!
Here’s what we’ve got on tap for Halloween Night:
· The Power of Poison – Our incredible temporary exhibit focusing on poisons, venoms, and toxins will be open all night to explore!
· “Dastardly” Dr. Erin Baxter Presents - Fatal Feasting - Mini-Lectures on Cannibalism, Poisoning, and the Science of Death
· Legendary Spooky Scavenger Hunt throughout the Museum... spooky prizes await!
· “Mad” Science Demonstrations throughout the evening! · Shake your bones with the Silent Disco – we’re taking over the whole Museum with spooky tunes!
· Delicious drinks (cocktails AND mocktails) that will delight your senses – the perfect “antidote” to an ordinary Halloween!
· Dress to impress in your Halloween best (no full-face masks, please!) - we can’t wait to see you in your spooky threads!
Get your tickets now – we can’t wait to see you at the Museum!
- Designed For
- Adults
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
A Night of Trivia with Dr. Terry Fry, The Cells Guy
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Ready to challenge what you think you know about cell and gene therapy? Join us for a lively, laughter-filled event hosted by the one and only trivia quizmaster, Jill Schladweiler, as she teams up with Gates Institute Executive Director, Dr. Terry Fry – The Cells Guy! They’ll tackle the biggest myths in this groundbreaking field—because who said cutting-edge science can’t be fun? First, we’ll kick things off with a Cell-and-Gene Therapy Quiz that’ll separate the science geeks from the merely curious. Think you can spot a chimera from a chameleon? Or know which CAR T-cell therapy hit the FDA first? Let’s find out! (No pressure, but bragging rights are on the line.) Next, Dr. Fry will share his expertise with an eye-opening session that clears up misconceptions like: - Can cell and gene therapies give you superpowers? - Are they only good for cancer treatments, or is there more to the story? - Will they turn your baby into the next superhero? Get ready to learn, laugh, and leave with your brain buzzing!
*Drinks will be available for purchase at this event. *
- Designed For
- Adults
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Wednesday, Nov. 06
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by Dr. KaChun Yu & Bob Raynolds.
Come with us from the whaling fleets of New England to the coal mines of Colorado to learn where our energy has come from in the past, and how we power our society today.
Have you ever wondered where your gasoline, electricity, or overall energy supply comes from? We’ll delve into the historical evolution of energy development in the Rocky Mountain region, bringing the story to life with immersive 360-degree imagery and flyover visualizations in the Gates Planetarium. Discover the compelling tales behind the energy resources we often take for granted—from the days of wood and kerosene to today’s advanced electric grids and pipeline networks. These essential systems support our everyday comfort and well-being, yet their complexities often go unnoticed. This event will also set the stage for a follow-up program in Spring 2025, where we’ll focus on the future of energy and the pathways that will guide us through the ongoing energy transition.
Come gain a deeper understanding of what truly powers our modern lives.
- Designed For
- Adults
Wednesday, Nov. 06
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Hosted by Dr. KaChun Yu & Bob Raynolds.
Come with us from the whaling fleets of New England to the coal mines of Colorado to learn where our energy has come from in the past, and how we power our society today.
Have you ever wondered where your gasoline, electricity, or overall energy supply comes from? We’ll delve into the historical evolution of energy development in the Rocky Mountain region, bringing the story to life with immersive 360-degree imagery and flyover visualizations in the Gates Planetarium. Discover the compelling tales behind the energy resources we often take for granted—from the days of wood and kerosene to today’s advanced electric grids and pipeline networks. These essential systems support our everyday comfort and well-being, yet their complexities often go unnoticed. This event will also set the stage for a follow-up program in Spring 2025, where we’ll focus on the future of energy and the pathways that will guide us through the ongoing energy transition.
Come gain a deeper understanding of what truly powers our modern lives.
- Designed For
- Adults
Thursday, Nov. 21
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science welcomes Dr. Salima Ikram for an evening of discovery, wonder, and exploration as we dive into her incredible work in the Valley of the Kings.
King Tutankhamun’s spectacular tomb, KV62, was found in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, after which the Valley was deemed to be ‘dry’. However - in 2006, KV63 was discovered just a stone’s throw away from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Dr. Ikram’s presentation will delve into the coffins and jars that were unearthed in this previously undiscovered tomb and try to reconstruct the role of each artifact in the elaborate embalming and mummification rituals of these ancient kings.
Dr. Salima Ikram brings history to life as an Egyptologist and Distinguished University Professor at the American University in Cairo. With a bright sense of humor and innate talent for storytelling, her work connects the wonders of the ancient world with contemporary audiences – she has appeared on numerous documentary series for PBS, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Netflix, and the BBC.
We are honored to welcome Dr. Salima Ikram to the Museum for this exclusive presentation, and we can’t wait to see you there!
- Designed For
- Adults
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Wednesday, Nov. 13
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Behind Every Image, a Story, director Jean-François Fontaine. Thousands of old photographs of indigenous people are housed in the drawers of archives centers throughout Canada. Men, women and children, of whom we know neither the name, nor the origin, nor the life. This goal of this documentary was to go further than the image, to meet the descendants of these individuals to finally name them – with photography as a link between people, history and culture. This project aims to be a portrait of Canadian society and to document in its own way an important moment of in Canadian history – reconciliation. (Les Films Sanajik, 2023, 52 min.).
Beyond Being Silenced: Gyaa Isdlaa, director Charles Wilkinson. World famous Haida artist Robert Davidson was born in Hydaburg, Alaska at a time when the traditional law-giving social potlatch ceremony had been outlawed by governments seeking to prevent indigenous inhabitants from asserting title to their ancestral lands. Years later, the ban was lifted, but the damage had been done to younger generations of Haida and their connection to their heritage. Then in 1969, a young Davidson carved a totem pole for the village of Masset in Haida Gwaii, sparking a rebirth of coastal indigenous culture. Fifty years later, Davidson, along with other indigenous artists, began recreating tribal crests – totems which are fundament to a clan’s identity - gifting them to his brother clans at a special potlatch ceremony. (Bullfrog Films, 2023, 23 min.).
- Designed For
- Adults
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Denver Arts Week 2024
Museum admission is free from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Explore art, nature and science at the Museum as we join many of Denver’s cultural institutions in a free evening celebrating Denver Arts Week! Did you know that artist Kent Pendleton painted hidden elves in the background murals of wildlife dioramas? Take a closer look at the art throughout Museum exhibitions, visit our temporary exhibitions “The Power of Poison” and “Animals of the Rainforest” and catch a showing in the Gates Planetarium. We can’t wait to see you there!
Please visit the Denver Arts Week website for information on other participating museums and the shuttle service.
Gates Planetarium schedule
Shows require a separate ticket.
Show times:
- 5:30 p.m.
- 6:45 p.m.
- 8 p.m.
- Designed For
- Everyone