GASTONIA, N.C. — The Schiele Museum of Natural History is a landmark in the city of Gastonia. They literally cater to all ages. Even toddlers can find something to keep them stimulated.
It is one of 70 museums in the United States designated as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and has the largest collection of mounted land mammals in the Southeast.
The minute you walk through the doors, you’ll see the giant tyrannosaurus on display. It’s actually a skeletal model of the amazing dinosaur. Fans of the prehistoric will really enjoy the Dino Safari, which takes you back millions of years to encounter the enormous animals that roamed the planet being vanishing.
There are 14 different areas to explore. You literally will encounter science, nature, and history, plus a nationally known planetarium that can take you through the universe and back.
The James H. Lynn Planetarium can seat 156 guests. Shows last around 45 minutes. You can see full dome films on everything from the human body to nature and space.
If you’re looking for something different to do with family or friends, how about a night under the stars? Enjoy special evening presentations at the planetarium, with a different program every night through the end of April. Each is at 6 or 7 p.m. It’s all part of Friday Night Lights at the Schiele Museum of Natural History.
They have a special offer for everyone: Get into the museum for free once a month. The second Tuesday of every month you can visit the Schiele Museum of Natural History for free. From 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, you can explore the museum and all the exhibits at no charge.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
You can visit the entire WCNC Charlotte Weather Team at the Schiele Museum on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. until Noon.
