The Springfield Museums’ monthly tour and lecture schedule continues in April 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:
April 7 – The English Garden: Perfection on Earth. Curt DiCamillo, historian, will discuss the development of the English landscape tradition and demonstrate why the English garden has often been called Britain’s single most important contribution to world culture.
April 14 – All Over England. Amy S. Dane, global traveler, lecturer and photographer, highlights the amazing gardens, moody British landscapes, Roman and Medieval ruins and castles, university towns, and charming villages she witnessed in her recent visit.
(No lecture on April 21)
April 28 – All About Emus and Why Would a Museum Hatch Their Eggs? Elizabeth Thwing, nonfiction writer for children, traces the zigzag historical trail that connects the odd emu with its meat-eating dinosaur ancestors and the Science Museum’s egg incubator project.
As part of the Museums’ members-only “Continuing Conversations” series, museum docent Jerre Hoffman will lead a guided gallery discussion at the Wood Museum of Springfield History following the April 14 lecture, and docents Dennis and Nancy Swartwout will lead a post-lecture gallery discussion on April 28 at the Springfield Science Museum.
On Sunday, April 24 at 1 p.m., the Wood Museum of Springfield History will host a special talk titled “Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising with Congressman Richard E. Neal.” The talk is part of an ongoing series of events taking place in and around Springfield to honor of the start of the Irish Rebellion.
On Friday, April 1, the Springfield Science Museum’s large rooftop telescope will be open for public sky gazing at 7:30 p.m. as part of the “Stars Over Springfield” observatory series. These programs are organized by the Museum and the Springfield Stars Club, and take place on the first Friday of each month. Each event features an introductory talk on topics such as space exploration, seasonal sights of the night sky, current astronomical research, or upcoming events like eclipses or comet appearances. 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. For information about astronomy programs at the museum, call 413-263-6800, ext. 318.
Monthly Walking Tours are presented on second Saturdays in collaboration with the Armoury-Quadrangle Civic Association (AQCA). Walking tours are free for Springfield Museums and AQCA members, $5 nonmembers, and start at the Museums’ Welcome Center. On April 9, Brian Connors, Springfield’s Deputy Director of Economic Development, will lead a tour titled “Transformative Development in Downtown Springfield.”