Kick off your school year on September 13th
in Downtown Mesa with an amazing rooftop party at the Arizona Museum of Natural
History! After attending Mesa Arts Center’s Season Kick-Off Event, Remix Remaster Festival, head over to Macdonald and
Main Street to attend an exclusive party just for local college students.
Being that I am a senior at Arizona State
University, I like to think I have a pretty good idea what the Valley has to
offer. It was not long, however, before Kathy Eastman, Curator of Education at
the Arizona Museum of Natural History, proved me wrong.
Kathy granted me an insider’s tour of the
Museum. Once inside, you are greeted by two incredible elephant skeletons; 2 of
5 species of elephants that use to roam Arizona. Next you pass Bird Gallery, which showcases fossil skeletons of native birds with wingspans of
up to 30 feet! (And you were worried about owls swooping in and stealing your
dogs)!
Next, test your knowledge in the What-If Room, which holds a variety of artifacts
and all-around curious things. Like this retro telephone booth – photo opportunity!
Fun fact: The Arizona Natural History Museum was actually a jail and still
retains some original cells, complete with bare bunks! Try not to get locked
up; some say it is haunted!
Not to be missed is the Dinosaur Hall that spans the second floor. It includes a 3-story
waterfall experience that flash floods every 23 minutes! Dinosaur Hall includes
dinosaur replicas, as well as colossal fossil collections of T-Rex, and more.
You will come inches away from his formidable chompers. Lastly, before you wrap
up your tour of Dinosaur Hall, I dare you to take a selfie with this fearsome
Velociraptor. Trust me; you’ll have the scariest profile pic!
Other galleries highlight specific eras of
Arizona’s past. Like the period of time in which our state was completely under
water! Who knew that the hot and dry desert was once inhabited by sea
dinosaurs? Not me.
After you’ve had your fill of arts, culture and
jaw-dropping dinosaurs, head up to the roof of the Museum of Natural History to join the exclusive rooftop party. The sounds of the DJ will lead you there, and
refreshments will quench your appetite. Don’t
miss it!
See
you there!
-Your friendly Neighborhood full time
college student -Laura Wilde
