Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters May 22, 2010

The Earth sustains us, protects us, and makes life possible; but it also humbles us with its dramatic power. This summer, The Durham Museum is pleased to host Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters from Chicago’s Field Museum. This dynamic exhibition, explores natural disasters through stunning displays, stateof-the-art animations, poignant, large-scale images, and cultural artifacts that reveal the dynamic relationship we have with the Earth. Nature Unleashed focuses on four types of disasters – earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and tornados. These phenomena are the spectacular results of the forces that drive our ever-changing planet. Nature Unleashed examines the science behind the history and headlines and illustrates how much we know and how much we are still learning about nature’s terrifying power. Visitors are in for a memorable and powerful experience! Witness what it’s like to stand inside a roaring tornado; trigger an underwater earthquake and simulate a tsunami; create a virtual volcano; touch and examine rock and lava specimens that tell of past geologic events; discover how people adapt to living at risk; and be inspired by the resiliency of disaster survivors. Nature Unleashed will be on display May 22 – September 12, 2010 at The Durham Museum.

To help celebrate the opening of Nature Unleashed on May 22, The Durham Museum has dancing, storytelling and more! Join us for a Forces of Nature dance workshop with Josie Metal-Corbin, The Wind Blew storytelling with Dave Johnson and create windsocks in the Craft Corner. Visit www.durhammuseum.org for a full description of activities.

Wednesday Weather Workshops
This summer, join us the first Wednesday of each month in the Mutual of Omaha Theater for special weather workshops the entire family can enjoy!

June 2, 10AM and 1PM
VOLCANOES! –Join us as we explore the clues that volcanoes tell about the constant changes of the earth’s surface,
look at pumice, obsidian, and basalt and even cause your own volcanic eruption!

July 7, 10AM and 1PM
EARTHQUAKES! –There will be a “whole lot of shakin going on” in this workshop as we learn about plate tectonics and generate seismic waves with slinkys!

August 4, 10AM and 1PM
HURRICANES! – Discover what it is like to be in the eye of the storm, learn some of the mysteries behind hurricanes, and stir-up your own tropical storms!

September 1, 10AM and 1PM
TORNADOES! – During this workshop the fun might “spiral out of control” as we learn about the science behind tornadoes and create your own twisters in a bottle!