Morrill Hall to offer free Thursday night admission in February

            Cold outside? Stay warm and spend quality time with family as you explore all that is new in Nebraska's beloved natural history museum. The University of Nebraska State Museum will offer free admission to Morrill Hall Thursday nights in February. The museum will be open free of charge to visitors from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28. The museum is open 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays.

            Morrill Hall has three floors of remarkable exhibits to enjoy, including the world's premier collection of fossil elephants. The "Bizarre Beasts" exhibit is Lincoln's newest "must-see" attraction. The exhibit explores some of Mother Nature's most curious creatures, and explains how their environments shaped their unusual features. The temporary exhibit, "Minerals & Meteorites," showcases the incredible diversity and natural beauty of Earth's geologic treasures.

            Other exhibits feature dinosaurs, evolution, ancient weapons, prehistoric mammal fossils, Native American and African cultures, monsters of the ancient seas, and interactive wildlife dioramas. Children will especially enjoy the hands-on natural wonders in the Marx Science Discovery Center.

            Mueller Planetarium, located inside the museum, will present the digital fulldome show "Natural Selection" Thursdays at 7 p.m. in February. Regular admission to fulldome shows will apply. Show tickets may be purchased at the front desk of the museum. The complete fulldome schedule can be found at www.spacelaser.com.

            The University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall Morrill Hall is located south of 14th and Vine streets on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays, and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Regular admission is $6 for adults (19 and over), $3 for children (5-18 years, 4 and under are free), and $13 for families (up to two adults and children). UNL staff, faculty, and students are admitted free with NU ID. Friends of the Museum are also free with valid membership card. Planetarium tickets may be purchased at the front desk the day of the show, $3 adults, $2.50 children 18 and under. Parking is free in front of the museum. For further information, telephone the museum at 402-472-2642 or visit www.museum.unl.edu.

Writer: Dana Ludvik