Geopalooza! A Hard Rock Anthology

Houston, Texas - Discover the full spectrum of nature’s mineral wonders – from tiny trilobite fossils to gigantic cathedral geodes – when Geopalooza! A Hard Rock Anthology debuts, May 23, 2008 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Featuring massive geodes weighing thousands of pounds presented alongside some of the world’s most spectacular meteorites, minerals and fossils, the exhibit will be on display through Aug. 24, 2008.

“Geopalooza! A Hard Rock Anthology spotlights all manner of the Earth’s natural treasures. Walk through a room filled with rare meteorites, marvel at intricately preserved trilobites and discover some of the world’s most beautiful minerals,” said Joel A. Bartsch, president of the Houston Museum of Natural Science and curator of gems and minerals. “It’s the ultimate rock experience.”

Admire a spectacular collection of agates, lapis lazuli, malachite and jade. Stand in wonder before massive amethyst and citrine geodes taller than a person, jammed with gleaming purple and golden crystals. Admire an array of huge mineral crystals, including a gargantuan gypsum crystal from Mexico’s “Cave of Giants,” home of the largest crystals ever found. Gaze upon intricately crystallized slices of petrified wood, some more than five feet across.

Extremely interactive, the exhibit is built to draw visitors into all of the fascinating facets of mineralogy. Touch the metallic surface of a meteorite that has traveled millions of miles, from the depths of the cosmos. Select a geode, and see it cracked open as you become the first living thing to behold its contents. Pan for gold to see if you’ll hit the mother lode. Children ages 3 – 11 can put on their paleontologist hats to dig fossil replicas in the dig pit.  

Marvel at an amazing collection of fossils, including huge prehistoric fish, reptiles, and trilobites with astonishingly delicate antennae, eye stocks, and other features – more bizarre than any alien from outer space. See meteorites, moon rocks, and a stunning selection of fluorescent minerals that glow in every color of the rainbow.

After visiting Geopalooza!, don’t miss the chance to explore the Museum’s world-renowned Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, a spectacular hall that houses more than 750 beautifully crystallized, world-renowned mineral specimens. Local funding for Geopalooza! A Hard Rock Anthology is provided by Spectra Energy and Weatherford International Ltd.

Tickets for the special exhibition are $15 for adults; $10 for children (3 – 11), seniors (62+), and college students with a valid ID; $7 Museum members; $3 school groups; and $8 for groups of 20 or more, and include admission to the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals. For tickets, or more information, visit www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science—one of the nation’s most heavily attended museums—is a centerpiece of the Houston Museum District. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, and the Wortham IMAX® Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the Museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at One Hermann Circle Drive in the heart of the Museum District, is always an adventure.