The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature’s New Exhibition Opening This Month: Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures

Opening Sept. 21, this family-friendly exhibition features unique cultural objects to highlight the surprising similarities and differences in the ways people around the world envision and depict mythic creatures. This new exhibition will be open through Jan. 5, 2020 and is organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York (amnh.org).

Exhibition highlights include a stunning vibrant sculpture of the African water spirit Mami Wata (shown above); a replica “Feejee mermaid,” of the type made famous by showman P. T. Barnum, created by sewing the head and torso of a monkey to the tail of a fish; a “life-size” model of a European unicorn; a touchable narwhal tusk and a dramatic model of a kraken, whose tentacles appear to rise out of the floor as if surfacing from the sea.

Visiting this special exhibition is included in the price of admission.

Please join us for a special reception for our newest exhibition, Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures

• When: 5:30-7pm Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019
• Details: Light bites, with beer and wine available for purchase
• Where: The Bishop, 201 10th St. W, Bradenton
• Cost: Free for members of the Discovery Society; $5 for all others
• RSVP Required: email [email protected] or call 941.216.3463

The alligator is the first animal in the Pond in the new Mosaic Backyard Universe (MBU) — but he won’t be the last! Soon he’ll be joined by live native turtles.

Get ready — Southwest Florida’s best backyard will officially open Oct. 1!

Want to be among the first to see it? Members of the Discovery Society are invited to a special MBU preview weekend Sept. 28 and 29! The first 100 visitors each day will receive a free MBU drawstring backpack and all members of the Discovery Society will enjoy an extra 10% discount in the Museum Store.

• Not yet a member? Join now!

Wednesday, Sept. 25

We’ll also share the most current events in the world of astronomy and open the floor for an always-fun question and answer session. Stelliferous is great for curious adults and inquisitive kids alike.

Get Tickets Now

Bonus Feature: Want to learn more about astronomy? Be sure to check out the new monthly column by Planetarium Manager Howard Hochhalter in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune!

Museum Day is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity. More than 250,000 people downloaded tickets for last year’s event, and Museum Day 2019 is expected to attract more museumgoers than ever before.

The event is sponsored at The Bishop by Mosaic.

Did you know that your support of The Bishop makes it possible for children to discover the joy of exploring the natural sciences while developing essential learning skills? And that these explorations can turn into life-long pursuits?

That’s exactly what happened for Chloe Sweetman, who visited the Museum throughout her childhood. Today, she’s pursuing her Ph.D. in evolutionary anthropology and applied research at Dartmouth College and she joined The Yale Obesity, Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptations

(O.L.A.G.A.) Study Group in Samoa to research the variables that influence chronic disease in Polynesia.

Says Chloe: “I am where I am today because of the early inspiration and nurturing of my passions I found at the Museum.”

Please consider making a gift today that can impact someone like Chloe, who is creating a better future for us all!

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019

• Please contact Laurie Voight for more information

The Bash at The Bishop is presented by Willis Smith Construction.

Thanks also to our Silver sponsors — CenterState Bank, Greene Hamrick Quinlan & Schermer, P.A., and SunTrust — and to our Corporate Partners: Blake Medical Center, BMO Harris Bank, Bradenton Herald, Manatee Herald-Tribune, Mosaic, Netweave Social Networking, Northern Trust, SRQ Media, WUSF Public Media.