Museum & Science Center > Programs & Events
Behind The Scenes Tours
A series of themed, behind the scenes tours to help you get a glimpse at our collections vaults.
advance regisTration is required.
Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.
Like many museums, the majority of our collections are not on public display. As the steward of over 1.2 million objects, there are a lot of unique, interesting, and just plain odd objects within our collections vaults— and this is your chance to get a look at some of them!
We’re offering annual themed tours of our collections vaults. Each tour date, attendees can choose from one or more themes that interest them the most.
Each tour is led by one of our expert collections staff members and includes:
- A brief, guided tour through a public exhibit
- A tour through one of our eight collections vaults
- A final Q & A session with our collections staff
Tours are for adult audiences (18+).
Please arrive promptly, as all tours will leave the lobby right at 6pm.
upcoming tours:
Thursday, october 22, 2026
Myths and Monsters
Explore the real-world origins of legendary creatures
Tour Locations: Zoology Vault
From manatees mistaken for mermaids to fossils inspiring tales of dragons and griffins, discover how nature has shaped myths and legends across cultures. Get up close with rare specimens, artifacts, and cryptozoological mysteries as we separate fact from fiction and uncover the science behind the stories.
Note: Due to the nature of the zoological collection, there is an odor in the vault that some individuals may have a sensitivity to.
Please note these tours are 18+ due to subject matter. Content is for mature audiences. Tours will start promptly at 6pm and depart from the lobby.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Memento Mori
history behind the mourning practices of the 19th & early 20th centuries
Tour Locations: Apothecary Exhibit, History Vault
Explore how death was used as a form of political protest. Wonder at the dark beauty of the intricate wreaths and jewelry made in remembrance of loved ones. Gaze behind the veil of an era when death was as fashionable as life!
Please note these tours are 18+ due to subject matter. Content is for mature audiences. Tours will start promptly at 6pm and depart from the lobby.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Blood, Blisters, & Breakthroughs
medicine in the 1800s
Tour Locations: Apothecary + General Store Exhibit, History Vault
Step into the dramatic world of 19th-century medicine, where doctors wielded lancets and leeches with the same confidence we have in antibiotics today. This tour explores a pivotal century that began with physicians draining patients’ blood to restore bodily “balance” and ended with the revolutionary discoveries of germ theory and anesthesia. From patent medicine bottles promising miracle cures to the evolution of hospital hygiene and professional nursing, this tour reveals how 19th-century medicine was simultaneously brutal and brilliant.
Please note these tours are 18+ due to subject matter. Content is for mature audiences. Tours will start promptly at 6pm and depart from the lobby.