CLEVELAND—April 4, 2024—The Cleveland Museum of Natural History and University Circle Inc. have joined forces to organize a solar eclipse watch party of cosmic proportions. Located on Wade Oval Drive in University Circle, the festivities will begin at 11am on Monday, April 8, 2024.
This family-friendly event will feature music, food trucks, hands-on activities, presentations from the Museum’s Astronomy department, wildlife programs, a solar viewing station, and more!
The Museum will welcome special guest and retired NASA astronaut, Mike Foreman, during two live Q&A sessions led by Museum astronomers. Selected to join the NASA astronaut program in 1998, Mike has spent more than 637 hours in space during two space shuttle missions, STS-123 and STS-129.
The Total on the Oval Watch Party is free for both Museum members and non-members. The Museum will be open for special programming from 10am to 2pm, with outdoor activities kicking off at 11am. The party will fully move outside to the Wade Oval lawn beginning at 2pm. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for extra seating. Free bike valet will be provided on-site by Ohio City Bicycle Co-op, and located on Wade Oval, across from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Alcohol and open flames are not permitted.
Total on the Oval Highlights:
Solar Eclipse Timing:
Visit CMNH.org for more information on the Museum’s solar eclipse programming. This event is in partnership with the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and the Simons Foundation, as part of its 'In the Path of Totality' initiative, and the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Transformation Project
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s $150 million transformation project is an unprecedented reinvention that will align the Museum’s architecture with its mission of instilling a passion for nature and science in all learners. The Transforming the World of Discovery campaign has raised $140 million for this project, which will expand the Museum's building to more than 375,000 square feet and its outdoor visitor areas to more than 2 acres. The transformation project aims to broaden community access and help all stakeholders understand their connection with the natural world and the relevance of science to their daily lives.
The latest milestone in this project was the opening in October 2023 of a welcoming new Visitor Hall, a free community space that showcases eight of the Museum’s most iconic objects and specimens. This dramatic, 14,650-square-foot gallery features ceilings that soar to 21 feet and stunning new exhibits placed along the Douglas McCreery and Dr. Laurie McCreery Timeline of the Earth, which marks key events in the history of the Universe. Slated for completion in late 2024, the Museum’s transformation encompasses a complete reimagining of the Museum campus and all its exhibits. Pioneering a new model for natural history museums, the redesigned exhibits will highlight the Museum’s world-class assets while reflecting its role as a trusted community resource. The Museum appreciates the generous support from community members, corporations, foundations, and government grants that has helped to make this transformation a reality.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
Media Contact
Samantha Guenther
External Communications Manager
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
216.403.4557
sguenther@cmnh.org
