Schiele Museum: free admission March 14 after 4 p.m., including planetarium show

The Schiele Museum of Natural History, the excellent museum at 1500 E. Garrison Blvd. in Gastonia, is probably familiar to many kids, who visit it for school field trips. If your child hasn’t visited it yet (or if they have!) it’s more than worth the short trek to Gastonia.

Read on to see some pictures of the outdoor exhibits, and a list of all exhibits, as well as information on the Museum’s Free Tuesdays.

Please reserve tickets in advance, as there is limited space at the museum.

Free Tuesday

The Schiele Museum is free to visit the second Tuesday of each month in 2023, from 4 to 8 p.m., and that includes a free planetarium show.

You must make reservations, both for general admission and the planetarium shows. They can fill up quickly, especially the planetarium shows. Tickets for the scheduled shows will be available for reservations one week prior.

Make your reservation here. Make sure to choose “Afternoon” General Admission.

Here’s the schedule for 2023:

January 10th
February 14th
March 14th
April 11th
May 9th
June 13th
July 11th
August 8th
September 12th
October 10th
November 14th
December 12th

Duke Energy funds the Free Tuesday program.

Outdoors at the Schiele Museum

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Admission to The Schiele Museum

Adults (18+): $7
Youth (4-17): $6
Children (3 and under): Free
Schiele members: Free

Permanent Indoor Galleries

Hall of North Carolina Natural History

Have you ever seen a harbor seal, a teal, a heron, an egret or a coot? These artistically crafted dioramas depict the inhabitants and terrain of the North Carolina coastline, coastal plains, hills, Piedmont and mountain regions in their incredible diversity.

Hall of North American Habitats

Experiencing the beauty and detail of the Hall of North American Habitats is like being transported to the middle of the continent’s most dynamic terrain. Your eyes will lead your imagination to the wonders of our ocean floors, the Everglades, the Sonoran Desert and the mighty Alaskan tundra. Children and adults alike will leave with an appreciation for the majesty and diversity of life in our North American homeland.

Robinson Featured Exhibit Gallery

Creepy Nature is designed to share the actual science of weird and unusual plants and animals. This exhibit features horror fiction concepts like vampires, zombies, mummies, and alien invaders! Discover the truth behind these mythologies as you follow the expedition of our hero through undersea perils, mysterious jungles, forbidding swamps, and an abandoned mine. What lurks in these environments is stranger than fiction – it’s Creepy Nature!

Hall of North American Wildlife

Get toe to claw, nose to gill, finger to stinger and eye to shank with wildlife at its finest. These dioramas give you true perspective on the size and scope of North America’s bears, bison, moose and elk along with its other mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.

Henry Hall of the American Indian

Can you name the five major regions of North America? Do you remember the major tribal groups that so richly affected European settlers in the new world and colonies? Not to worry if you’ve forgotten a few details because The Schiele Museum can bring you an unforgettable collection of artifacts, weapons, ornaments, tools, and housing that will remind you of the beautiful culture of the North American Native American.

Permanent Outdoor Exhibits

Nature Trail

All within a 0.7 mile trek, you’ll experience a pine forest, mixed hardwood forest, and pond and stream communities typical of the North Carolina Piedmont. On the trail for all seasons, every day is a good day for a walk. The PlayScape provides a good play area for kids along the trail.

Memorial Wildlife Garden

In this wildlife oasis, you can take advantage of the contemplative setting by escaping the rat race and settling into an environment authentically designed to provide food and shelter for the Carolina Piedmont’s native species.

Catawba Indian Village

Open seasonally, this interpretation of 400 years of Catawba Indian culture, adaptation, and survival is a must see for visitors interested our region’s rich heritage. Visit a prehistoric bark-covered house, council house and log cabins. Please call 704.866.6908 to verify that the village is open.

Stone Age Heritage Site

Travel back in time when the stone tools our ancestors used were the cutting edge of technology. Walk among the standing stones, stone circles, earthen burial mound, rock cairn and petroglyphs that give insightful glimpses into our past.

The Farm

This outdoor experience for visitors explores the natural, ever-changing relationships between people, plants, and animals on farms across the history of our region. Goats, chickens and piglets all call The Farm home.