The Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium is a must-see if you find yourself in Long Island, New York. Learning has never been this fun once you educate yourself the Vanderbilt way!

History of the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
Located right inside the Gold Coast estate of the Vanderbilt clan, the museum was acquired in 1947 but opened its doors to the public three years later. The museum contained the collections of William K. Vanderbilt II ranging from marine to ethnography to natural history. Today, the museum is a proud member of the American Association of Museums and is also included on the National Register of Historic Places. The planetarium was built in 1971.

The Spanish Revival Mansion
There are 24 beautiful rooms in total that visitors can explore inside the Spanish Revival Mansion. These rooms have been built in three primary phases between the years 1910 and 1936. The original architectural head of the Spanish Revival Mansion was the Warren & Wetmore firm, the renowned maker of New York’s Grand Central Station.

The Vanderbilt Museum
Enlighten yourself with knowledge of the past by walking through the hallowed hallways of the Vanderbilt Museum. There, artifacts and other historically significant objects that William Vanderbilt II had painstakingly collected in his lifetime have been carefully preserved. Paintings, mansion furnishings, weaponry, ship models, foreign objects, specimens from the marine science and natural history and important books and photographs are just some of the items used in the exhibits of the Vanderbilt Museum.

One of the main attractions of the Vanderbilt Museum is a 3,000 year old mummy and its poly-chromed case which was bought in 1931 at Cairo, Egypt. It continues to be the focal point of many educational programs today.

Adhering to the desires of William Vanderbilt II to share his knowledge with the public, the Vanderbilt Museum offers its visitors guided tours so that they can better understand all the items on display in the museum.

The Vanderbilt Planetarium
With a 60-foot tall dome, the Sky Theater is definitely a sight to behold. It can successfully project images of the solar system as well as other astronomical phenomenon. The Vanderbilt planetarium is also used to display special laser shows.

For Halloween 2006, the in-house staff of the planetarium has created “Haunted Skies”, a frighteningly enjoyable 30-minute program that details the origins of the end-of-October holiday.

Eclipse is a show that helps viewers better understand this celestial phenomenon and its relations to Christopher Columbus, Mayan Civilization and Ancient Egypt.

Hubble Vision 2 on the other hand is a visual exploration of the universe through Hubble Space Telescope, one of the world’s most powerful telescopes.

In the Planetarium’s lobby, visitors can further expand their knowledge of the space and universe with the exhibits displayed there. There is also a TV monitor provided to inform visitors about current NASA space activities. A calendar of events is also posted on the bulletin boards of the Planetarium for visitors to know what they can expect in the succeeding months.

The best way to end your visit at the Vanderbilt Planetarium is to take a souvenir with you from the Planetarium’s gift shop.

What You Should Know Before Visiting Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
The museum opens from noon to 5pm, Tuesdays through Sundays, however, the ticket booth closes one hour before closing. Admission fees depend on the time of your visit. Daytime guests are all required to pay the general admission fee. You will have to pay extra for Planetarium shows and mansion tours. The admission fees for evening shows are slightly higher. Contact them directly for group tour information.

Visit there website (34 hits)for more information

Technorati Tags: suffolk county, long island, long island museum, centerport, suffolk