A letter to the Santa Barbara community, from Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History President & CEO Luke Swetland –
Luke Swetland. Courtesy photo.
You may have heard that we’re currently undergoing significant renovations, something we like to call “revitalization” here at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. But you can rest assured the Museum is open and vibrant during this exciting time – and most importantly, the Museum is still safe for your children throughout the renovation process.
As we approach the holiday season and start to reflect on 2017, we stop to think about the things that make our lives so special. For the team here at the Museum, one of the things that makes us feel like we’re on the right track is the joy we see in our Museum visitors every day we come to work. We’re incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to interact with so many people who call Santa Barbara home, and after celebrating our centennial last year, we hope to continue providing the community with an exciting, natural place to play and learn for the next 100 years and beyond.
To make it easier for more local families to spend some time with us at the Museum, we are reducing our prices this holiday season. As a special holiday gift to the community, the Museum is offering 50% off admission and free planetarium shows (normally $4) from now until December 31, 2017. So now, it’s only $6 for an adult ticket, $4 for a senior or teen ticket, and just $3.50 for a ticket for children 2-12. As always, children under 2 get in free.
The holiday season is a time when friends and family gather, and we want to make it easier for our community to experience the wonderful programs and exhibits we have here at the Museum. Many of us have relatives visiting from out of town this time of year, and finding a way to entertain a large group can often be overwhelming and expensive. Hopefully this gift to the community will give more people the opportunity to learn, engage, and explore at our Mission Creek campus.
During our revitalization, the following halls and experiences are open to visitors: Mineral & Gem Gallery, Chumash Indian Hall, Geology and Paleontology Hall, Museum Library, Astronomy Center and Planetarium, Marine Hall, Fleischmann Auditorium, and Maximus Art Gallery.
We also have a number of fascinating exhibits and special areas that we know nature enthusiasts of all ages will love, including the Curiosity Lab, Bug Boot Camp, our BaseCamp outdoor nature engagement area, Eyes in the Sky featuring local birds of prey, and our new Wild Things exhibit in the Maximus Art Gallery.
And of course, our Sea Center on Stearns Wharf is open every day from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sea Center admission remains at normal price.
For more information about all of the exciting things happening at the Museum, and for the full schedule of special events, visit our website at www.sbnature.org or give us a call at 805-682-4711.
We hope to see you and your family this holiday season.
Sincerely,
Luke Swetland
President & CEO
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History