Lecture – Rocks & Minerals of the Ancient World
Fossils, minerals and rocks have been around since before human civilization, yet the sciences to study them have only been established for a couple of hundred years. Learn how the balance between natural resource abundancy and human ingenuity gave rise to the greatest monuments in the ancient world.
Emphasizing the ancient Egyptians, Maya, Aztec, tribes of the Amazon, as well as the American Plains, Southwest, and Northeast–James Washington will explain the specific geologic conditions that gave humanity the building materials to create the mega structures, mythologies and wealth of the ancient world using pieces from the museum exhibit halls as examples. Following the presentation, the audience will be invited to see a few select exhibits.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 – 6:30 PM
Members $12, Tickets $18
BTS – Tourmaline Treasures
Tourmalines display the widest range of color of any gem, and the exhibition features the stunning “Rose of Itatiaia” tourmaline from the Jonas Mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, on loan from Qatar Museums, Doha, Qatar. Additional masterpiece specimens in the exhibition come from the most famous mines in the world. These include the international locations of Paprok Region of Afghanistan, Anjanabonoina region of Madagascar, Pedeneira Mine in Brazil, Malkhan Mine in Russia, and Alto Ligonha region of Mozambique. American specimens hail from Maine’s Mount Mica and California’s Stewart and Tourmaline Queen Mine. Tour the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals with an emphasis on Tourmaline Treasures with HMNS master docents.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 – 6:00 PM
Members: $15. Adult Tickets: $22.
BTS – Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Featuring 100 awe-inspiring images, from fascinating animal behavior to breathtaking wild landscapes,Wildlife Photographer of the Year harnesses the power of photography to promote the discovery, understanding and responsible enjoyment of the natural world. Tour this visually stunning exhibition with HMNS master docents.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 – 6:00 PM
Tickets $27, Members $17
BTS – Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum
Gladiators locked in mortal combat for the entertainment of the crowds in Rome’s Colosseum. “Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum” takes us into the violent arena of the Colosseum and behind the scenes to the world of the gladiators. Theirs was a world of specialized training, discipline, regulation and peril, but also of hope of fame, redemption and even wealth and freedom.
Explore the behind-the-scenes lives of the gladiators and the colossal stage upon which their fate was determined, the Colosseum. Learn how the lives of gladiators changed through time and how the search for gladiators expanded with the Roman Empire. The story is told through artifacts, scale models and multi-media. During this after-hours tour, your guide will explore the exhibit with you, sharing riveting stories and answering questions.
“Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum” is organized by Contemporanea Projetti, srl and Expona in collaboration with the Colosseum, Rome. This exhibition is sponsored by HMW Entertainment.
Thursday, May 18, 2017 – 6:00 PM
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Wednesday, June 21, 2017 – 6:00 PM
Members $22, Tickets $39
BTS – Mapping Texas: From Frontier to the Lone Star State
Featuring maps dating from 1513 to 1920, the special exhibition traces more than 400 years of Texas history. Through this unique presentation of cartographic history, visitors can visualize how the fourth largest city in the US, Houston, and the third most populous county in the US, Harris County, grew into an economic powerhouse because of the Houston Ship Channel and the growth of railroads in the region. The works in this exhibition are mainly from the archival collection of the Texas General Land Office and Houston map collectors Frank and Carol Holcomb. Additionally, there are items on loan from the Witte Museum in San Antonio and the Bryan Museum in Galveston.
Go behind-the-scenes with a master docent to see the formation of Texas, from an unnamed frontier in the New World, to a small outpost of New Spain, to the huge, bustling state that now leads the nation.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 – 6:00 PM
Members $15, Tickets $27
