‘Flying Bacteria,’ Extreme (MT) History & a Brews finale at MOR

Southwest Montana is slowly beginning to warm up, and with the thaw comes a full calendar at the Museum of the Rockies. Here’s a look at some upcoming events at your neighborhood museum.
Astronomy & Aerospace Day will unfold Sunday, April 15th from 10am–2pm. All science lovers are welcome to spend a fun-filled day learning about what’s going on in space and how it relates to us on the ground. With exhibitors from MSU, and lots of events for kids, you will not want to miss out! Included with museum admission.
The next edition of the Science Inquiry Lecture Series, ‘Flying’ Bacteria as Potential Rainmakers with Dr. David Sands, will take place Wednesday, April 18th in Hager Auditorium beginning at 7pm. This presentation is open to the public.
Droughts and wildfires are persistent threats in states like Montana: can high-flying bacteria potentially mitigate such natural events by inducing more rainfall? Dr. Sands, professor of Plant Pathology at Montana State University, will discuss the possibilities of such “bioprecipitation,” and more specifically, how certain plant-infecting bacteria that end up circulating high in the atmosphere may also promote the formation of ice crystals needed to produce rain – with potential implications for reducing drought and fire danger.
At each month’s Science Inquiry Lecture, explore cutting edge science topics, their latest developments, and their relevance to society through speaker presentations followed by a Q&A session.
MOR is pleased to host the Extreme History Project Lecture Series, encouraging public understanding of the way our history has shaped our present. Speakers take a fresh look at interesting historical topics. Antiquities on Montana’s Public Lands: A History of Indians, Amateurs & Archaeologists with Nancy Mahoney is next up on Thursday, April 19th at 6pm. This lecture will be held in Hager Auditorium and is open to the public.
American archaeology emerged during the late nineteenth century, amidst enduring disagreements over access to the public domain, the nature of property rights, and the meaning of national heritage, all of which played out within the social, political and environmental context of the rural West. Historical tensions surrounding race and class within this region informed the construction of federal antiquities laws and transformed indigenous cultural remains into the most highly restricted resource within the public domain.
This history is particularly complicated within the context of the Northern Plains, a region that is both the territorial homeland of once-nomadic Plains tribes, and a last frontier of Euro-American settlement; it is a region that has remained contested terrain longer than any other within the contiguous United States. This fact, coupled with the delayed entrance of professional archaeologists into Montana, sowed the seeds of opposition and misunderstanding among the region’s three major stakeholders: Native American tribes, resident amateurs, and career archaeologists.
This presentation will explore both the underlying cultural history of archaeological practice in Montana, as well as more recent trends in collaboration and stewardship that effectively incorporate the broader concerns of both descendant and resident communities.
MOR’s popular series Brews & the Big Sky: Montana Made, Montana Brewed. finishes its season with Yellowstone Tourism featuring Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company on Tuesday, April 24th from 5:30–7:30pm. Tourism is a vital part of our region’s economy and lifestyle. See items featuring the Rocky Mountain hospitality industry from stagecoach travel and souvenirs to backcountry camping and high-style hotels. There is a $12 admission including beer tasting, gallery talks, exhibits, and light appetizers for those 21 and older.
Closing out another month, Junior Archaeology Family Day is set for Saturday, April 28th from 10am–12pm. Celebrate Montana Archaeology Month with MOR, Project Archaeology, and other program partners. Elementary and middle school explorers are invited to earn an official National Park Service Junior Archaeologist badge by completing activities throughout the museum. Help unlock secrets of the past through artifacts with a variety of hands-on activities and dig deep into Montana’s rich history. Included with museum admission.
The Museum’s latest exhibit, Julius Caesar: Military Genius & Mighty Machines, is open during regular hours and included with Museum admission. The array was born from the desire to recreate a fascinating period of history, as realistically as possible, to explore and experience the mighty machines, gadgets, and clever technologies of the Roman Empire. Showcasing over 100 interactive machines, virtual reality displays, reconstructed scaled models, recreated artwork and frescoes, the exhibition is presented covering four themes: Military Genius, All Roads Lead to Rome, Building Rome, and Entertainment & Lifestyle.
Journey back in time 2,000 years to discover the life, culture, and engineering genius created by the Roman Empire. Handcrafted by Italian artists, this exhibition contains interactive models that integrate science and history. Museum guests are encouraged to explore the innovative machines that continue to influence the technologies of today.
For more information about these and other events, visit www.museumoftherockies.org or call (406) 994-5257.