A new IMAX film is now showing in MPM’s dome theater, and I was fortunate enough to catch an early showing with some of the other staff today.

Coral Reef Adventure is a revolutionary documentary. Marine biologists brought the notoriously cumbersome IMAX camera to extreme depths to learn about the reefs around the world - especially those surrounding Fiji. Narrated by Liam Neeson, this film is informative and breathtaking with stunning visuals of gorgeous reefs and seamless transitions from animation to live action. You’ll learn about the fascinating network of species inhabiting the reefs and how these underwater creatures exist co-dependently. 

It’s not all fun and games, though, as this movie intends to raise awareness about the reefs around Fiji being blanketed in death. Learn why these reefs are dying and why they are so important to the world of medicine in Coral Reef Adventure - now showing until October 4, 2012.

Today I headed into the Rainforest exhibit. Admittedly, every time I’ve been in that part of the Museum, it has been a brief visit with mere glances at the cases and dioramas. I, like so many other museum patrons, am always too excited about going through the Third Planet. But this time was different, and I’ve got a new appreciation for the Rainforest. Perhaps my favorite part of the exhibit is the long walkway on the second floor. Here, there are cases of evidence to support and help us understand biological evolution. This is a frequent topic of discussion with my friends.

I also took the time to explore each and every corner of the exhibit. Mid-ramp between the two floors, you will find a small display about night time in the Rainforest. The lighting is cool and the text is fascinating.

Upon leaving the exhibit, you’ll see a big blue jeep. It’s always playing some sort of Latin music, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see a group of kids dancing to “La Bamba”! Make sure you give the Rainforest a thorough scan on your next visit.

The Third Planet exhibit is, always has been, and undoubtedly always will be my favorite place at MPM. I’ve had a major bias towards dinos ever since doing a project on the Dimetrodon in Mrs. Crowell’s third grade class. Here’s an abridged narration of my trip through the exhibit.

Not fifteen feet into the exhibit, you are confronted by a massive Torosaurus. Awesome! Just past the Torosaurus are several rooms about the structure of our planet. All the information about sedimentary rocks, Pangaea, and volcanoes brought memories of my Geology class last semester whirling back. Just past the Earth’s structure is the good stuff – dinos. I snapped a picture of Stegosaurus while I listened to a mother try to explain to her adorable daughter why the behemoth has a tail to defend itself from becoming lunch. Of course, the famous T-rex diorama had the attention of several parties on their way through to the Rainforest as well. As I watched, I noticed a micro-dino hiding in a log. He was too cute to pass up. Try to find him on your next visit!

“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but look: Dinosaurs and man, two species separated by sixty-five million years of evolution, have just been suddenly thrown back into the mix together. How can we possibly have the slightest idea what to expect?” –Dr. Alan Grant, Jurassic Park

First off, I’d like to clarify a common misconception about the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium. When I first started my internship, I had to ask around to see if the planetarium and IMAX dome were the same structure. Yes, yes they are. Of course they are. Where else would the museum be hiding a planetarium? But I digress…Today I made it into the theater shortly after the lights were dimmed. For future reference, the theater gets very dark. To save yourself from bruised shins and embarrassment, get in there while the house lights are still on because the stairs have a tendency to sneak up on you. But…enough about my clumsy extremities. Let’s talk Cleopatra’s Universe.

Planetarium shows begin with a guided tour of the night sky. Complete with a laser pointer and a very smart astronomer, I learned what planets are going to be visible tonight and where they’ll be. He also took us out of Milwaukee and into the country side, where we could see several constellations, including Orion, Taurus, and the Gemini twins. This unrelated tour was fantastic. Star gazing may be less authentic in a theater, but it’s a lot more comfortable.

Cleopatra’s Universe was produced in house at MPM. There are stunning digital recreations of Alexandria, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. The movie takes you soaring over desert dunes to the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. You’ll learn about the intelligence of Egyptians at the time and how they were to very crudely estimate the circumference of the earth. This movie is the perfect preface to the Cleopatra exhibit, which is closing on April 22nd. If you’ve got any heart for history, I would highly recommend making Cleopatra’s Universe and the Cleopatra exhibit into a day trip.

Sometimes, when I feel I’m in the mood for a little tropical climate, I go to the Butterflies exhibit. It’s the perfect way to cap off a lunch in the concourse. The Jack Puelicher Butterfly Garden is home to 400-600 butterflies in 60 varying species, most of which are tropical. There’s a certain sense of serenity in that exhibit. Amidst the chaos of work, internships, and school, there’s a little room in my life that’s a flurry of color and the sound of the rainforest. Also, the humidity makes my hair frizz up. The butterflies love it.

This first picture is my favorite butterfly (I guess I’m making a pretty radical assumption about the sex of this creature). His species is called Morpho peleides. He’s hiding right now and probably doesn’t want company. The undersides of his wings are a dull brown so as to camouflage him, but once he took flight, his electric-blue 5-6 inch wingspan caught my eye. The second picture is a picture submitted by a local photographer, Ryan Treviranus. Entry to the Jack Puelicher Butterfly Garden is included with museum admission. I highly recommend taking a stroll through here during your next visit!

Right now, the Milwaukee Archaeology Fair is taking over the exhibits of MPM. I decided to escape from the office and head down to the exhibit floors to snap a few pictures. I wasn’t sure what I was in for. The fair exceeded my expectations. I saw everything from fully armored knights (personally, my favorite table), Greek hoplite warriors, and even ran into a table that referred to my high school, Big Foot High in Walworth.

Just outside of the Streets of Old Milwaukee, a crowd of kids were gathered. I decided to do some investigating and found a woman doing calligraphy. I’ve always thought calligraphy was gorgeous, so I had her write out my name. It makes for a great souvenir.

The Milwaukee Archaeology Fair is happening today, March 9, until 3 p.m., and tomorrow, March 10, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. I highly recommend you make your way over. The fair is included with general admission to the museum, and there will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy. To see a comprehensive list of the presenters and tables at the fair this year, hop on over to http://www.mpm.edu/education/special/archaeology-fair/

What better perk can a movie-buff marketing student intern ask for than free showings of films at the IMAX? The answer, my friends, is none. I took a peek at Born to Be Wild this week. Here’s the easiest way to describe this movie: take adorable baby orangutans, charming baby elephants, add a bunch of footage of them doing bite-your-lip cute things, and mash it all together into a story narrated by Morgan Freeman and his silky smooth voice (yeah, this movie already gets a 5 star review).

We meet Daphne, founder of an elephant sanctuary for infant elephants whose mothers had been poached, and Biruté, founder of an orangutan sanctuary for orangutans whose homes had been destroyed by loggers. Follow their story in the stunning IMAX dome (and in perhaps the comfiest movie theater seats you’ll ever experience) and you won’t be disappointed.  Born to be Wild is showing in the IMAX dome until October 4, 2012.  

Greetings! Welcome to Milwaukee Public Museum’s official Tumblr site. I’m your host and humble intern, Adam. I’ll be writing this blog about my experiences here at the museum while I intern. I enjoy music, obscure movie references, and am an avid shoe wearer.

MPM is a fascinating place. Day one of this internship had me giddy like a school girl, rediscovering the museum’s exhibits after at least a 10 year absence. Have you ever gotten lost on the third floor here? I have. Twice. In one day…but I digress. Let’s get down to business.

I took a stroll down the Streets of Old Milwaukee exhibit. Once a year, costumed docents and volunteers take to the streets of our popular exhibit and bring Milwaukee, circa 1880, to life. I heard some great stories about our wonderful city from the townspeople. I got an earful from two lovely ladies about my favorite part of the Streets of Old Milwaukee…the Schlitz tavern! Five cents for a beer and free lunch? We need more bars to re-adopt this business model.