Springfield Museums announce December lineup

Nov. 23, 2016 |

“New England Takes Flight” will take place Dec. 8.
Reminder Publications submitted photo

SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Museums’ monthly tour and lecture schedule continues in December with the popular Museums à la Carte lectures, which take place on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. Admission is $4 ($2 for members of the Springfield Museums); visitors are invited to bring a bag lunch (cookies and coffee are provided). For more information about Museums à la Carte, call 413-263-6800, ext. 488. This month’s lectures are:

Dec. 1 – “The Works of William Shakespeare.”  Stephen Collins, actor and lecturer, brings Shakespeare to life through the bard’s own comedies, tragedies, and histories.     

Dec. 8 – “New England Takes Flight: One Hundred Years of Aerospace History,”  Amanda Goodheart Parks, Director of Education, New England Air Museum, gives an overview of the aerospace heritage 100 years in the making and shares her extensive knowledge about the collections in New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT.

Dec. 15 – “The Spirit of Christmas Past: Four Centuries of Christmas in New England.”  Kenneth C. Turino, Community Engagement/Exhibitions Manager, Historic New England, traces the development of the celebration of Christmas from the time it was outlawed in 17th century New England through the present day.

There are no lectures on Dec. 22 or 29 due to the holiday season.

As an added feature, museum docents will be leading guided gallery discussions titled “Continuing Conversations” following lectures on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month (Museums members only).  December’s “Conversation” will take place on Dec. 8 at the Wood Museum of Springfield History with museum docent John Basile. There is no lecture on Dec. 22.

On Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m., the Springfield Science Museum’s large rooftop telescope will once again be open for public sky gazing for the monthly “Stars Over Springfield” observatory program. These programs are organized by the Museum and the Springfield Stars Club, and take place on the first Friday of each month. The featured talk on Dec. 2 is by planetarium educator Jack Megas and Physical Sciences curator Richard Sanderson, who will speak on “Dipper Full of Stars: An Introduction to the Winter Night Sky.” Stars Over Springfield programs are best suited for families with children ages 8 and older, however younger children are also welcome.  Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children 17 and under.

These programs are held rain or shine. If it is cloudy, a planetarium show will be presented in place of telescope viewing.

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