As his 3-year-old son, Mikey, trotted through a dimly lit aquarium corridor Saturday morning, Michael Pezo called the Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum a “wonderful place” to be.
“His brain explodes every time he gets to see something or touch something in these exhibits — and we get to beat the heat,” Pezo said, laughing.
Nearby, Mikey ran his hand across a glowing sandbox projection of fish and other marine life.
He said his favorite exhibit was that featuring King Tut.
The Pezos were among the hundreds who attended the museum’s 35th-anniversary celebration, themed “The Magic of Science.” The event started at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed guests with 50 percent off admission.
Ashley Glenn, the museum’s spokesperson, said the event was about teaching children about natural phenomena.
Still, she said, “The shining star today is the families that are coming and the fun they’re having here. That’s our bread and butter.”
Interactive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activity booths were set up throughout the museum.
In the international wildlife gallery, children made their own “magic wands” — plastic sticks decorated with hot glue and fitted with a small magnet. In another room, they used the wands to sift through sand and separate metallic elements.
Across the hall, one exhibit highlighted how ancient Egyptian uses of herbs helped lay the groundwork for modern medicine.
Meanwhile, at the back of the building, children learned about “invisible ink” — simple acid-base reactions that change color when painted over with a pH indicator.
Eva Arellanes, who brought her 8-year-old son and 3-year-old granddaughter, lingered near a Freddie’s Reptiles showcase at the center of the museum.
She said it was their first visit to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum.
“The interest they have, wanting to explore and create, is a joy,” Arellanes said.
Nearby, Freddie’s Reptiles staff member Maria Cruz, surrounded by displays featuring an axolotl, scorpions and tarantulas, held out a sand snake for children to pet.
A 3-foot iguana perched atop a plastic bin at the end of the table. Some visitors hesitantly reached out to touch it, while others balked as their parents urged them on to the next exhibit.
“We want to expose them to these animals, because many will never get to interact with reptiles like these,” Cruz said. “It’s awesome to see the kids so engaged.”
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.
