Museum & Parade

The state Museum of Natural History is having it’s annual Reptile & Amphibian Day this weekend, and I took the boys. We’ve been to the museum a few times over the years, and it’s always been a hit. This time was no exception.

When we got to the downtown area, the streets were packed with cars and pedestrians. I’ve been downtown several times during rush hour, and that’s nothing compared to this snarl of traffic. We drove around for a long time looking for parking, and during that search we discovered there was also a St. Patrick’s Day parade happening this day. I had noticed an inordinate amount of green clothing on the pedestrians, but having my attention on the vehicles within six inches of either side of the van, the prevalent color didn’t really register with me before seeing the parade route lined with a sea of green.

Anyway, we eventually found a parking spot when someone pulled out and left. We debarked and discussed whether to see the parade or not. I figured that we ought to go on to the museum, as that was our original reason for coming downtown anyway, plus, after the parade, some of the people on the street might head for the museum themselves. Not need to fight the crowds twice.

So we went on to the museum. Calfgrit7 was working Calfgrit3 up into excitement by talking about the dinosaurs in the museum. Both boys have been there before, but CG3 doesn’t remember — being just 2 years old at the time. CG7 has been here at least once a year since 2 years old, so he remembers nearly everything from his last couple of visits.

The photo to the left shows the atrium-like area where the main dino exhibit is showcased. From outside, you can see pterodactyl models circling in the glass peak, and you can see a acrocanthosaur skeleton through the second floor windows.

Inside, the museum was packed with people and snakes. Many of the snakes were out to be touched and held by any and every one. My boys touched nearly every snake presented, and even held a couple. (I held some, too.)

It was very cool. I’ve touched snakes on occasion, at small presentations and such, but I’ve never been able to handle so many so thoroughly. The experience actually made me think about a snake for a pet. They’re quiet, only need to be fed once a week, and fun to hold as they wriggle about. (The thought was pretty quickly put out of mind, though, when I thought of Cowgrit’s probably reaction.)

We visited the dinosaur hall twice (had to go by it again, before we left the museum). The boys got to see the big t-rex-cousin skeleton, a life-sized replica of some long-necked dino, and various other stuff like dino teeth and claws. They were both enraptured by the displays.

This event at the museum was part of some Boy/Cub Scout requirements, so there were many Scouts about. We hadn’t gone there for the Scouting thing, but it was suggested, by a Scout parent I chatted with at one of the displays, that I take Calfgrit7 to the Scout table in the main foyer of the museum and sign him in — he’d get a special badge and could get paper recognition for having come to the museum that day. Calfgrit7 mentioned that he wished he had worn his Scout uniform to the museum, like so many other boys had.

After leaving the museum, we walked down the street to see if the parade was still going. It was, sort of. We managed to see the very tail end of the parade — a band, a car with waving passengers, and a firetruck flashing its lights and sounding its siren.

Overall, it was a very fun trip, but it makes for a pretty boring tale.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com