New York State Museum Announces August Public Programs

The New York State Museum announces its upcoming programming for August, offering educational opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages. Through special programs, including events, lectures, exhibits, and a host of online resources, children, families, educators, and students can experience art, science, and history in a fun and engaging way. The following upcoming free programs are available in person or online, as indicated in each listing.

Summer at the Museum

Thursday, August 1, 2024 | 11 AM - 1 PM | All Museum Galleries | Free
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | 11 AM - 1 PM | All Museum Galleries | Free
Thursday, August 8, 2024 | 11 AM - 1 PM | All Museum Galleries | Free

Throughout the summer, programs designed to spark creativity and curiosity will take place around the Museum. These family-friendly programs will change regularly, so make sure to come back!

Learn more about August 1, 2024, Summer at the Museum
Learn more about August 6, 2024, Summer at the Museum
Learn more about August 8, 2024, Summer at the Museum

Tours of the State Education Building

Saturday, August 10 | 2 PM – 2:45 PM | State Education Building
Saturday, August 17 | 2 PM – 2:45 PM | State Education Building

Tour the historic New York State Education Department Building! New York State Museum staff lead the 45-minute Education Building tour, and visitors can explore the building adorned with murals by Albany native Will H. Low. The tour starts outdoors on the front steps of the State Education Building, located at 89 Washington Avenue, Albany. Tours of the Education Building will be offered at 2 p.m. Each tour can accommodate 35 people, and reservations are required.

Learn more about the August 10 State Education Building Tour
Learn more about the August 17 State Education Building Tour

Gallery Tour Unveiled: Wedding Wear in New York, 1910s–1940s

Sunday, August 11 | 2 PM | New York Metropolis Hall | Free
Thursday, August 15 | 12 PM | New York Metropolis Hall | Free

In choosing their wedding clothes, brides and grooms are influenced by fashion, economics, technology, religion, geography, celebrity, personal taste, and their role in society. This was as much the case in the past as it is today. Wedding clothing holds memories, and pieces—dresses, shoes, suits, and head wear—are often preserved and passed to subsequent generations. A couple’s choices reveal information about both the individuals who wore them and those who made them. Some garments, like those exhibited here from the 1910s to 1940s, find their way to museum collections. Unveil these stories with clothing expert, Connie Frisbee Houde, as she highlights pieces from the exhibit, Unveiled: Wedding Wear in New York, 1910s–1940s.

Learn more about the August 11 Gallery Tour Unveiled: Wedding Wear in New York, 1910s–1940s
Learn more about the August 15 Gallery Tour Unveiled: Wedding Wear in New York, 1910s–1940s

BrainFood for the Curious: Canine Contrasts with Dr. Jeremy Kirchman

Wednesday, August 14 | 12 PM – 12:30 PM | Huxley Theater | Free

Explore the genetic and physical differences between wolves and coyotes by joining Dr. Jeremy Kirchman as he sheds light on the historical decline of wolves and the colonization of coyotes in New York. Learn how the history of coyote-wolf hybridization has made it difficult for hunters and wildlife management agencies to distinguish our ubiquitous eastern coyote from the occasional wolf that wanders outside of its core breeding range in neighboring Canada. This program includes a 20-minute talk and a brief Q&A.

Learn more about BrainFood for the Curious: Canine Contrasts with Dr. Jeremy Kirchman

The New York State Library is part of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department. Visit the New York State Library website for a complete list of upcoming programs. To receive news, resources, and other updates, please subscribe to the quarterly newsletter. 

The New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 250 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website. 

The Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more. 

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.