This year marks 300 years since Blackbeard roamed the Carolina coast and lost his life in a fight with British soldiers. However, more can be learned about the notorious pirate when the 14th annual Museum Day, hosted by Smithsonian magazine, is celebrated Saturday in D.C.
The 2018 theme, “Women Making History,” aims to recognize women who are trailblazers in the arts, sciences, innovation and culture.
Saturday’s event, which will offer free admission to more than 1,500 participating museums and cultural institutions across the country, allows entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. D.C’s Newseum is among local participating museums.
“Now, more than ever, we recognize the importance of Museum Day in making our country’s knowledge and culture accessible to everyone,” said Amy Wilkins, chief revenue officer at Smithsonian Media. “Given the strides women are making in society, our theme — ‘Women Making History’ — encourages participating museums and museum-goers alike to celebrate and honor the female heroines that help shape the world around us.”
One such exhibit — “Defying Gravity: Women in Space” — will be held at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. The display is a mixed-reality experience where visitors wear Microsoft HoloLens (a headset computer with holographics) and listen to former NASA astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison describe women’s pivotal contributions to space exploration.
To find participating museums and download tickets, go to https://t.co/VNWNlxzrsm.
