Events
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National Archaeology Week (12 - 20 July, 2008)
The Mystery Files (family and school holiday events throughout 2008)
Astronomy Events (events at the York Observatory and in the museum)
Wild Wednesdays (free August family activity days in the Museum Gardens)
Special Events (one-off events in the museum and the gardens)
Finds Days (archaeological identification sessions run by the Portable Antiquities Service)
Bringing the Viking past to life
Saturdays 12 and 19 July
11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm
Join in the fun at these 45-minute sessions looking at everything from sword skills to domestic duties. Children aged five to 11 are invited to travel through time with Helga and Rolfe to rediscover what life was like in Viking times.
Meet an Archaeologist
Saturday 12 July
11am - 4pm
Have your archaeology questions answered and get a closer look at some of our amazing artefacts. Our archaeologist is from the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which has a base at the Yorkshire Museum, and which works across the country to identify finds made by the public and record information about them.
Digging Deeper
Wednesday 16 July, plus 6 and 13 August
10am - 4pm
Adult volunteers are invited to join us for this three-day course to help carry out some fascinating new archaeological work. The course begins with a training day on 16 July, looking at the techniques of archaeological excavation and finds processing and recording. The work will then take place on 6 and 13 August, in the Museum Gardens, at our popular public events, Wild Wednesdays.
The course is free, but please book your place by telephoning 01904 687677.
A year of intrigue at the Yorkshire Museum
All year - 2008
Crack the mystery of the Middleham Jewel.....
Murder, bodies, burials and treasure - our museum is full of mysteries waiting to be investigated.
During 2008 we’re inviting visitors to become detectives in our search for the answers to some intriguing (and sometimes gory) mysteries….
Each school holiday there is a new mystery to solve, using clues and information to be discovered around the museum. Examine treasures close-up, consult historical witnesses, speak to experts and use your wit and observational skills to get to the truth.
Chapter One: The Sword (February half-term)
Chapter Two: The Body (Easter)
Chapter Three: The Jewel (Spring half-term)
Chapter Four: The Fossil
23 July - 31 August
When the lights go off at night at the Yorkshire Museum and all the visitors have gone home, the museum comes to life. Lately we have noticed some objects and fossils are not returing to their correct cases and some strange prints have been left outside the museum. Who or what has been breaking the rules and escaping at night? Solve the mystery of 'the night at the museum' in our summer Mystery File. Pick up the clues, interview the suspects and piece together the evidence.
Chapter Five: The Burial
25 October - 2 November
When it’s not school holiday time, there will still be the chance to take a peek into our Cabinet of Curiosities or take our History Mystery trail around the museum - all throughout 2008.
Click here to see our Mystery Object of the Month.
Astronomy Events
All astronomy events in the York Observatory and Museum Gardens are free (for events in the museum, normal admission charges apply).
Observe the Sun
5, 6, 11, 13, 19, 26 August, noon - 2pm
Come and take a closer look at the sun in the York Observatory.
Wednesdays 20 and 27 August
noon - 2pm
On these two days there will be the chance to look through a Personal Solar Telescope (PST) as part of our summer Wild Wednesdays in the Museum Gardens (see details below). PSTs allow the viewer to look directly at the sun, which is not usually possible - don't miss your chance to have a go!
Astronomy Talks
Our talks are quite informal and suitable for children and adults, from primary school age upwards. They are all given by curator of astronomy Martin Lunn and take place inside the museum in the Tempest Anderson Hall, usually twice a day.
The Summer Sky
Tuesday 7 August
11.30am and 2pm
Discover the secrets of the summer sky.
The Perseids meteor shower
Tuesday 12 August
11.30am and 2pm
Learn about the best know meteor shower of the year.
The sun and the earth's climate
Thursday 21 August
11.30am and 2pm
Global warming or climate chaos? How is the sun involved in our climate?
The planets
Monday 25 August
11.30am and 2pm
The latest news from the planets in our solar system
The stars
Thursday 28 August
11.30am and 2pm
Unlock the secrets of the stars.
Introduction to Astronomy
Tuesdays 2 and 9 December
6pm - 8pm
A fanastic opportunity for adults to have a basic introduction to astronomy with the museum's own astronomer in the oldest working observatory in Yorkshire. Participants should bring their own telescope.
Free, but please book your place by telephoning 01904 650333.
General Observatory opening times
Every Thursday plus the last Saturday of each month.
11.30am - 2.30pm
Free
Click here for more information on York Observatory and our Astronomy collection.
Every Wednesday in August
10.30am - 3.30pm
Wild Wednesdays are back in the Museum Gardens this summer, with family activities, trails, artwork and experiments on a different theme each week.
Medieval York
6 August
Investigate the archaeology of St Mary's Abbey and discover what everyday life was like for the monks who lived there.
Roman York
13 August
Delve into the remains of Roman York in the gardens and explore what it was like to be a Roman.
Birds and Dinosaurs
20 August
Find out about birds and dinosaurs that can be found in the Yorkshire Museum collection and out in the gardens. You might be surprised just how similar they are!
Mini-beasts and Massive Stars
27 August
Astronomy and natural history meet in this investigation of what can be found on the ground in the Museum Gardens and up above in the sky.
Dino-robots Family Challenge Day
Wednesday 30 July
11am - 1pm, 2pm - 4pm
Build and race a dino-robot with your family in this Yorkshire Museum Family Challenge. Kits are free of charge, but normal museum admission applies.
Giants Over York
Tuesday 26 August
8pm - 11pm
Discover what giants can be spotted after dark in the Museum Gardens. Observe the planets Jupiter and Saturn with the help of our astronomer, Martin Lunn.
Closer to home, can you spot the Hawk Moth flying around the gardens, with the help of our moth experts? Find the National Champion trees and take a look at some of the garden's nocturnal residents.
Whistlejacket Race Day
Saturday 30 August
2pm - 4pm
Come and see our 'cavalcade of horses' in the Museum Gardens, produced during the summer at York Art Gallery during its Stubbs and Whistlejacket in York exhibition (click here for more information about these events). Take part in obstacle races or watch, relax and listen to music from the Kirkbymoorside Brass Band.
Every month and across venues in North and East Yorkshire
Bring along your finds and get help and advice with identifying them from our Portable Antiquities Scheme staff. Click here for more dates and more information.