Mystery is the name of the game at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science this spring break as The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes transports guests to 19th-century Victorian London on a forensic quest to solve a baffling crime. Plus, the Perot Museum will be bustling with daily experiments, demos, bookworm readings and science trivia; 3D films including Tornado Alley 3D, Robots 3D, Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland, and introducing DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D (opening March 6); programs such as Discovery Days: Jr. Detectives and Story Time Under the Stars; and more. And from March 7-14 visitors can enjoy extended hours until 7 p.m. giving all ages and tastes plenty of time to take in all five floors of adventure.
For those who can’t wait, Spring Break gets an early start with First Thursday Late Night: Clue on March 5 when the Museum stays open until 9 p.m. In celebration of The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes, a screening of the film Clue at 7 p.m. will have visitors wondering if it was Colonel Mustard with the candlestick in the Conservatory. Plus late-night guests can embark on a Museum-wide scavenger hunt, test their powers of observation and deductive reasoning through experiments, learn how scientists investigate and solve their research, and even identify a secret sound.
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (now through May 10, 2015) delves into the world of one of the most beloved and recognizable figures in literature and popular culture. In this extremely hands-on forensic experience, visitors will learn first-hand how Sherlock Holmes, a scientific expert ahead of his time, used seemingly trivial observations of clues others missed to solve some of literature’s most mysterious crimes. The fictional detective’s practices and techniques, created in the mind of doctor-turned-author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, revolutionized forensic science and remain relevant in modern-day crime investigations. Guests will venture to Baker Street to collect clues and solve a crime using the same interactive methods and investigative tools employed by Holmes more than a century ago. The bilingual exhibition (presented in English and Spanish) also includes a dazzling array of original manuscripts, publications, period artifacts, and film and television props and costumes. Admission to The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes requires a surcharge for members and non-members. Ticket prices noted at end of release.
3D FILMS IN THE HOGLUND FOUNDATION THEATER, A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE Don some 3D glasses and get ready for adventure. To view trailers and film schedule, go to perotmuseum.org.) Films are presented by Primrose Schools.
- Tornado Alley 3D (now through May 21, 2015). Just in time for tornado season, join Storm Chasers star Sean Casey and the researchers of VORTEX2 for the most ambitious film ever made to tackle the origins and evolution of tornadoes in this heart-pounding science adventure. Armed with a 70mm camera, a fleet of customized vehicles designed to withstand gale force winds, torrential rains and unrelenting hail, and an arsenal of the most advanced weather measurement instruments ever created, the stars of Tornado Alley 3D take audiences on an exhilarating quest to experience a tornado’s destructive power at point-blank range. Narrated by Bill Paxton (Twister, Titanic), the film runs approximately 20 minutes.
- WORLD PREMIERE! Robots 3D (now through March 22, 2015). Come watch as eerily human-like robots fill the big screen as the Perot Museum hosts the world premiere of Robots 3D. And what does it take to make a “humanoid” robot? That’s the challenge for scientists creating robots that can do almost anything people can do, but without the benefits of a human brain! Fascinating and fun, the 40-minute National Geographic film shows the latest developments – the successes and failures – from robotic labs around the world and proves it’s not easy being (or creating) a humanoid! Robots 3D is presented nationally by Lockheed Martin.
- Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland (now through May 21, 2015) vividly documents an expedition to the Galapagos Islands and surrounding waters. Part adventure, part scientific expedition and part fantastic voyage, this unprecedented non-fiction film takes audiences on a journey to the famed Galapagos Islands. An amazing immersive cinematic experience, the film delves deep into the largely unknown water surrounding the volcanic archipelago to explore the natural wonders of a realm that is truly a living natural science laboratory. The approximately 20-minute film is narrated by Jeff Corwin, wildlife conservationist and Emmy Award-winning TV host. The film is written by Sir David Attenborough and produced by Anthony Geffen.
- DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D (March 6 – Sept. 7, 2015). On March 26, 2012, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron (and director of Titanic) succeeded in tackling his biggest challenge ever – a solo journey to Challenger Deep, the deepest known point in the ocean. Challenger Deep is 6.83 miles down and is found at the southern end of the Mariana Trench near Guam. Years in the making, this feat has been compared to landing on the moon. In order to make this journey, Cameron and his engineering team utilized revolutionary engineering and cutting-edge technology. They developed a new single-seat submersible that Cameron himself piloted to the depth of Challenger Deep. Named DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, the sub is 26 feet long and unlike anything ever built. Cameron’s team describes it as sharing qualities of both a race car and a torpedo. Presented by National Geographic, this film runs approximately 40 minutes.
The Perot Museum will stay open until 7 p.m. from Saturday, March 7 – Saturday, March 14. Spring Break hours as follows:
Saturday, March 7 – 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (member-only hours from 8:30 – 10 a.m.)
Sunday, March 8 – Noon-7 p.m. (member-only hours from 10 a.m. – noon)
Monday, March 9-Saturday, March 14 – 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (member-only hours from 8:30 – 10 a.m.)
Sunday, March 15 – Noon-5 p.m. (member-only hours from 10 a.m. – noon)
TICKET AND GENERAL INFORMATION Museum general admission ticket prices are $17 for adults (18-64), $12 for seniors (65+), $11 for youth (2-17), and free for children under 2. Museum general admission is always free for members. Admission to the theater is $5 for a short film (20 minutes) and $8 for a long film (40 minutes) for adults, seniors and youth. For members, admission to the theater is $5 (short film) and $6 (long film). All children under 2 are free.
The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes requires a surcharge along with purchase of Museum general admission for a total admission cost of $29 for adults (18-64), $23 for seniors (65+) and $21 for youth (2-17). Member tickets are $8 for adults (18-64), $7 for seniors (65+) and $6 for youth (2-17). General admission to the Museum and entry into the exhibition is free for children under 2.
