Archaeological investigators of all ages will have the chance to hone their investigative skills through a new traveling exhibition that is part of Roper Mountain Science Center Summer adventure program, running from 1st June to 6th August.
The “The mystery of the Mayan medallionThe exhibition takes visitors to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where they will attempt to unravel the mysteries in an abandoned archaeological field, “Site 25”.
Thomas Riddle, deputy director of RMSC, said the new exhibit follows the traveling exhibit of last year’s inaugural summer adventure, “Be the Dinosaur.”
“Last year’s summer adventure was a new program that we introduced and the response was, honestly, pretty overwhelming,” Riddle said.
The new exhibition, located in Environmental sciences and sustainability building, will teach visitors about Mayan history and culture, including explorations of their spiritual beliefs, the writing system, and a deep understanding of astronomy.
RMSC is also unveiling three new permanent exhibitions for the first time this summer:
- Always right is located in the Sustainable future show. This colored area is an interactive LED similar to a giant Lite-Brite toy. Fascinating animations evoke an interactive video wall, with dials that maintain tangible simplicity and accessibility for people of all ages and abilities.
- The From farm to table shows the importance of agriculture in South Carolina and how the health of the environment affects the quality of the food we eat. Brought to RMSC thanks to the South Carolina Farm Bureau, the exhibit will also give visitors have the opportunity to take home a packet of cabbage seeds, South Carolina’s official vegetable.
- The Litter letter exhibit, presented by Greenville County Litter Prevention, provides lessons and challenges presented via video that are accessed via QR codes as visitors move from the environmental science and sustainability building Harrison Hall of Natural Sciences. The exhibit is part of a national art installation initiative and is Litter Letter’s first project in South Carolina.
The Summer Adventure program will also include popular permanent interactive activities including the Nature Exchange, where visitors trade and learn about ethically collected natural items, including coveted collectibles like seashells and geodes in the exchange “shop”.
Visitors looking to have a dinosaur experience can explore the popular outdoor environment Adventure trail of dinosaurs. It features life-sized dinosaur models, trivia and other learning activities, and this year includes two new dinosaurs.
The times of the summer adventures are from 10:00 to 16:00 from Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is $ 12 for teens and adults (ages 13 and up) and $ 10 for children (ages 3 to 12) and seniors (ages 60 and up).
Admission is free for children 2 and younger and for Roper Mountain members. Parking is free and is located in the main car park just inside the entrance. Lunch is available in the Connections Café from 11am to 2pm and is free for under 18s.
For more information, visit Ropermountain.org.
Fast facts on the Roper Mountain Science Center
- The center opened in 1985 and is owned by Greenville County Schools.
- RMSC is home to the Charles M. Daniel Observatory, which houses the eighth largest refracting telescope in North America.
- The Hooper Planetarium it is the homeland of the popular Starry Friday night program, which this year will present “Tales of the Maya Skies” at the 7:30 screening.
- The Living History Farm features authentic log cabins, a barn, a blacksmith shop, a one room school and many other structures that have been relocated and rebuilt to show life in the early 1800s.