Bruce Museum
of Arts & Science

One Museum Drive
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
(203) 869 0376
http://www.brucemuseum.org/

This already great museum, serving its communities for more than 85 years, has recently expanded its facilities and now provides the best in natural history and art in a modern, comfortable environment that everyone is sure to enjoy. With the expansion, the Museum staff has coined the term "environmental history" to better define the Museum's goal of demonstrating man's role in changing the face of the earth.

Exhibits in the Environmental History Galleries include Changes in Our Land, The Earth's Minerals, Formation of Our Coast, Natural Resources Human Imprints, Life Between the Tides, Ecological Awareness, and A Place to Live. Exhibits are state-of-the-art, aesthetic presentations with many interactive displays. The Bruce Museum is a place for hands-on exploration for children, adults, and groups of all ages.

For instance, the new 2,400 gallon "touch tank", looking much like a rock pool, features creatures such as lobsters, horseshoe and hermit crabs, barnacles, oysters, and other denizens of the deep that kids (and adults) can gently handle. An aquarium behind the touch tank really sets the atmosphere.

An exhibition entitled, The Earth's Minerals, is actually a man-made cave displaying a variety of brilliantly colored minerals and fluorescents representing a global view of our natural environment.

Formation of Our Coast features video monitors, interactive exhibits and a cross-section of Long Island Sound spanning two billion years of geological evolution. An interactive wheel lets visitors see the changes that took place in the Sound over 12,000 years and how it is still changing. Here, also, a recreation of an archaeological dig at the Manakaway Site displays the Native American artifacts excavated at Greenwich Point 40 years ago.

The above gives only a small taste of the Bruce Museum's commitment to excellence and to presenting outstanding educational opportunities to its publics.

Fine Arts are also well represented here through a number of galleries that feature changing exhibitions of world-class art, such as the recent Multiple Exposure: the Group Portrait in Photography, and Beyond the Visible, exploring images not usually visible to the naked eye.

Throughout the year families can also enjoy a very full calendar of special events, children's programs, demonstrations, workshops, and more. The Museum even sponsors exciting field trips to far away places. Call for a calendar.

Interested in Astronomy? Join the Astronomical Society of Greenwich, which meets at the Bruce Museum and operates the Bowman Observatory at a separate location. The Observatory is open to the public, free of charge, two days per month, and by appointment for groups.

Finally, School Groups near and far benefit from the Museum's great educational programs for grades K through 8. A few examples: Artist's Tools (K - 2): through gallery and hands-on activities, children learn about tools and their uses, and design elements; Love a Lobster (K - 2): how to safely handle small sea creatures, and what it's like to be one; Native Americans Along the Sound (3 - 6): students use a life-size wigwam and artifacts to explore American Indian culture; Long Island Sound Program (6 - 8): students discover the ecology of the Sound, handling animals and plants from the intertidal habitat. A Double Program can include a trip to the beach; Prehistoric Peoples (6 - 8): using the exhibit and artifacts, students learn about ancient people's adaptation to their changing environment. Many other programs are available, including programs for High School through Adult Groups. The Brucemobile takes these or similar programs to the school. Most programs last one hour.

For programs at the Museum, class size is limited to 25 students, 15 for preschoolers. There must be 1 adult for every 5 students.

Everyone is encouraged to visit this wonderful Museum and participate in its great programs.

Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10am - 5pm. Sunday 1 - 5pm. Last admission at 4:30pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

Admission: Adults $7.00, Students (5-22 with ID) $6.00, Seniors (65+) $6.00. Under 5 FREE. Free individual admission on Tuesdays.
School Programs $45.00 per class. Brucemobile $100.00 per program. Two or more programs $80.00 each. Preschool program $45.00. Travel fee is $25.00, except for local schools. After-School Brucemobile Programs $100.00 plus travel.

Group Reservations: Reserve Programs as early as possible, at least 5 weeks ahead.

Lunch: Adjacent park for picnics.

Handicapped: Accessible.

Directions: I-95 North to exit 3. At bottom of ramp turn right onto Arch St. to intersection of Steamboat Rd. Go straight across to Museum Dr. Entrance is 500 feet on the left. (Buses should drop students here and continue around drive to designated parking).

Time: 45 minutes northeast of the George Washington Bridge.

Nearby: Greenwich Audubon Center , Square House Museum (914) 967 7588, Rye Nature Center , Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art .