Viewing Room | Transporting Peoria: Past, Present & Future
Thu, Jun 24 | Noon
Virtual Program, LIVE on Facebook
Join us over your lunch hour for a conversation on the history of transportation manufacturing in Peoria from bicycles to automobiles! Ask your questions live on Facebook and learn more about the Duryea and bicycles manufactured in Peoria. Lottie Fiddes, Curator of History, hosts Mike Rucker, local Duryea expert, and Chris Sweet, Historian and Librarian at Illinois Wesleyan University, .
T. REX | Thursday Night Trivia Series - ADULTS ONLY! - cancelled
Hosted by Dustin Growick + Kristina Gustovich from The Dinosaur Show + Atlas Obscura’s Dino 101!
Thu, Jun 24 | 8 pm
LIVE on Zoom
Do you have what it takes to tackle T. REX trivia? Grab a drink, and round up your squad for a ridiculous, irreverent, and educational adults-only evening of trivia, games, and prizes...as we celebrate America's Official Dinosaur™?, the T. REX. Bring your team name ready to go and let the games begin. The champions of trivia night win a chance to come back and defend their title at the next session!
Tickets Coming Up Next!
Dinosaur Trivia Night | Thu, Jul 29 - click here.
Jurassic Park Trivia Night | Thu, Aug 26 - click here.
Dustin Growick
After graduating with a M.A. in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from SUNY Stony Brook, Dustin dedicated himself to studying the way science institutions engage, educate, and entertain…from the inside. Then, in the private sector, Dustin helped build Museum Hack into a million dollar tour business while spearheading its consulting work with cultural institutions across the globe. Now operating independently, Dustin creates unique and engaging adult museum experiences that attract new audiences. Additionally, you should know that Dustin really loves dinosaurs—he raced a T. rex on his Youtube channel, created and hosts Atlas Obscura’s Dino 101, and teamed with DK Books to write two dinosaur encyclopedias.
Kristina Gustovich
MS in Geology from Western Washington University, MA in Teaching Earth Science from the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History. Middle school science teacher, geologist, improviser, and museum megastan.
Fri, Jun 25 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
Bringing Up Baby , 1938. Director: Howard Hawks.
Hawks' comic classic is the film that made Cary Grant a superstar and restored Katharine Hepburn’s badly damaged career. Bringing Up Baby gives us Hawks’ version of screwball comedy, with non-stop action and continual lunacy throughout, overlaid with the most improbable love story. I chose this film to go along with the museum’s current T-Rex exhibition. Hopefully, Riverside’s will last longer than Cary Grant’s. Also watch for the scene-stealing tiger that appears in the midst of the already crazy plot-line. Grant and Hepburn at their best, with each reflecting the other’s always onscreen cool, detached, yet romantic demeanor. A must-see.
-Marc Eliot
Jun 25 & 27 | 3 PM
Jun 26 | 3 PM & 6 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Located off the coast of Costa Rica, the Jurassic World luxury resort provides a habitat for an array of genetically engineered dinosaurs, including the vicious and intelligent Indominus rex. When the massive creature escapes, it sets off a chain reaction that causes the other dinos to run amok. Now, it's up to a former military man and animal expert (Chris Pratt) to use his special skills to save two young brothers and the rest of the tourists from an all-out, prehistoric assault. 2h 5m. Rated PG-13.
Dino Lab!
Saturdays | 11 am-4 pm
Located in the T. REX: The Ultimate Predator exhibition
Join us on Saturdays for Dino Lab! Enjoy a 20 minute hands-on dinosaur activity and some of the Museum’s educational fossil collection within T. Rex: The Ultimate Predator. Activities available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Free for Members and with Admission to T. REX
Fri, July 2 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1956. USA. Directed by Don Siegel (co-directed, without accreditation, by Nicholas Ray)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers stands tall among the best Hollywood films of a year that included such classics as Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, John Ford’s The Searchers, and Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing.
Shot in 24 days on a budget of less than $350 thousand, Body Snatchers grossed four million 1956 dollars in its initial theatrical release and touched an exposed both a raw political nerve and an intense romantic one, the latter of the two II find far more compelling. Hollywood’s fear of the spread of Communism is expressed by a town whose residents begin to lose their personalities under mysterious circumstances that cause them to act alike and lose their ability to express their emotions, a metaphor for the fear of the loss of individuality under Communism. City doctor Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy), who has recently broken up with his girlfriend, returns to his (fictional) home town of Santa Mira, after getting call to return to his home from several of the town’s residents, concerned their family members are suffering from some kind of mass psychosis. They are themselves, they tell him, but they are not themselves. Then, shortly after his return, one by one those who called him for help now report to Dr. Bennell that everything is fine.
While in Santa Mira, the doctor runs into his ex-girlfriend, Becky Driscoll (played by 50's screen beauty Dana Wynter) who has recently gotten divorced. She, too, has returned out of concern for her relatives, who appear to be suffering from the same psychosis. Soon enough, Miles and Becky rekindle their past failed romance (which might explain why Becky walks around town in a strapless evening gown for almost the entire film). As their relationship heats up, and the townspeople all seem to lose their individuality, the film builds to a nearly unbearable level of intensity, climaxing in one of the most exciting chase-and-escape sequences ever filmed. Miles' and Becky's hopes are temporarily raised by the sound of a gospel chorus. It, too, turns out not to be not quite what it seems. Ultimately, Driscoll’s shocking betrayal of Bennell illuminates the film’s stunning plot by reducing it to the inevitable disintegration of one couple’s attempt to rekindle lost love and find true romantic happiness.
To me, the love story is where the real action is in this movie, if you can see the metaphor as real and the real as metaphor. Note: While Siegel directed most of the scenes between Miles and Becky, the rest, including the climactic chase scene were directed, unsigned, by Peckinpah.
This is a landmark Hollywood film that anticipates many sci-fi/ horror films, most vividly Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and should not be missed.
- Marc Eliot
Jul 2 | 3 PM
Jul 3 | 3 PM & 6 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing return to the island of Isla Nublar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that's about to erupt. They soon encounter terrifying new breeds of gigantic dinosaurs, while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet. 2h 10m. Rated PG-13.
Dino Lab!
Saturdays | 11 am-4 pm
Located in the T. REX: The Ultimate Predator exhibition
Join us on Saturdays for Dino Lab! Enjoy a 20 minute hands-on dinosaur activity and some of the Museum’s educational fossil collection within T. Rex: The Ultimate Predator. Activities available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Free for Members and with Admission to T. REX
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the St. Jude Runs
Thu, Jul 8 | Noon
Facebook LIVE, Virtual Program
Join us for a special presentation celebrating the 40th anniversary of the St. Jude Runs featuring survivors and leaders of the organization, Amy Jones, Spencer Swearingen, and Sheriff Michael D. McCoy. Be sure to check out the focused exhibition displayed located in the Museum Lobby celebrating the achievements of this event for St. Jude.
The inspiration of the St. Jude Runs began in Peoria, IL, in 1982, when Mike McCoy and Gene Pratt collaborated on a way to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – their favorite charity.
They first envisioned driving to St. Jude in Memphis, and then running back relay-style to Peoria, home of the Jim and Trudy Maloof St. Jude Midwest Affiliate Clinic. Now, many Runs later, their vision has become one of the foremost charity running events in the nation, the Memphis Run has raised over $21 million and counting. GRAND TOTAL $66,553,211.60.
SAVE THE DATE for the 40th annual St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run: July 13 – 17, 2021
Amy Jones has been a part of the St. Jude family for over 30 years. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 10, and relapsed at 15. During her years as a patient, she developed a passion for raising awareness for the life saving work of St. Jude. Today, as a wife and mother of two kids, that passion has only grown! She spent the last 24 years as a St. Jude Memphis to Peoria runner, and now works for ALSAC to continue raising awareness and funds for the place that saved her life - twice. She is so grateful for this life, and the opportunity to help other St. Jude kids!
Spencer Swearingen is a 12-year participant in the St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run. He also serves as a Memphis team coordinator and as Treasurer of the St. Jude Runners Association. He and his wife Libby, live in Morton, IL with their four children. Their 16-year old daughter received care from St. Jude as she overcame Stage IV Neuroblastoma at the age of 4. Libby and he are currently patient-family representatives on the ALSAC Midwest Leadership Board. Spencer works locally in the Supply Chain Management field at Caterpillar, Inc. He is also a 12-year veteran in the United States Army Reserve and volunteers in Junior High Youth Ministry at Summit Point Church.
Sheriff Michael D. McCoy began his career at the Beardstown Police Department in 1970. In 1972, he joined the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office as a Correctional Officer and then a Deputy Sheriff. Later he was assigned to the Detective Division and promoted to Sergeant. Sheriff McCoy graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1976 ~ 107th Session. In 1979, Sheriff McCoy was named Chief of Police in Peoria Heights and served in that office until 1986 when he became Corporate Director of Security for a Private Industry. In 1994, Mike returned to the Sheriff’s Office as Chief Deputy. Mike McCoy was appointed as the 55th Sheriff of Peoria County on June 10, 2002. Sheriff McCoy was elected in November 2002 and again in November 2006. Mike retired as Sheriff of Peoria County in May of 2017 and joined the Washington Police Department as their Chief of Police, where he is currently serving in the same role. Mike leads the St. Jude Run, Ride, and Drive efforts out of Peoria. 2021: 40th Anniversary of St. Jude Runs, 15th Anniversary of St. Jude Rides, and 10th Anniversary of the St. Jude Drive.
Fri, July 9 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
The Incredible Shrinking Man, 1957. USA. Directed by Jack Arnold.
Our second Sci-fil film is the great Jack Arnold’s elegant 1957 The Incredible Shrinking Man that perfectly captures the prevalent fear of the day, nuclear warfare, and the resultant loss of man’s stature in a world bent on blowing itself out of existence. Based on Richard Matheson’s novel of the same name that he adapted for the screen (with Richard Alan Simmons), this beautifully written narrative tells what happens when the world gets larger and humanity gets smaller. Robert “Scott” Carey (Grant Williams) mysteriously begins to shrink after passing through a strange glittering cloud while aboard his private yacht; his wife escapes it and all that is to come as she is below deck when Scott is exposed. Surviving a hungry house cat and a fearsome spider, Carey survives to…well, I think you will have to see for yourself. (The poison cloud is as relevant today as it was in the ‘50s; we may substitute the fear of the spread of radiation to the very real Covid pandemic.)
A word about Jack Arnold. He is in my personal, if ever-evolving pantheon. Despite the fact that many of his films were cheaply made crawling creature flicks, “B” westerns (Red Sundown) and what passed for teenage “reality” back then (High School Confidential) his ability to project his personality onto his films recalls another director not treated with the respect he deserves, Michael Curtis. Among Curtiz’ numerous credits are Casablanca and Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Of the Incredible Shrinking Man, Philip K. Scheuer wrote in The Los Angeles Times that the film was "a fascinating exercise in imagination, as terrifying as it is funny…” and I wholeheartedly agree. I would add that it is admirably literate, adult, visually exciting, and from the opening sequence, without a dull moment. You should see it for the story, the direction, and the amazing special effects and for one of the most eloquently filmed denouements of any film. This is Jack Arnold’s masterpiece.
-Marc Eliot
Dino Lab!
Saturdays | 11 am-4 pm
Located in the T. REX: The Ultimate Predator exhibition
Join us on Saturdays for Dino Lab! Enjoy a 20 minute hands-on dinosaur activity and some of the Museum’s educational fossil collection within T. Rex: The Ultimate Predator. Activities available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Free for Members and with Admission to T. REX
Virtual Art Club | Kendra Paitz, Terry Adkins + William Cordova
Tue, Jul 13 | 1 pm
Join us for virtual Art Club! Art Club is a monthly meeting of people who love art. Each month we hear about a different artist or topic. We encourage artists to come talk about their own work, a style they love, or another artist they admire. Enjoy a casual discussion with PowerPoint slides. Participants are encouraged, though not required, to ask questions and discuss pieces of art presented.
This month, Kendra Paitz will be presenting on exhibitions she curated featuring works by Terry Adkins and William Cordova while you enjoy coffee and treats at your home.
Kendra Paitz is Director and Chief Curator at University Galleries of Illinois State University. She has organized solo exhibitions of work by Terry Adkins, Jen Bervin, Stephanie Brooks, Kendell Carter, Juan Angel Chávez, Bethany Collins, william cordova, Dianna Frid, Aram Han Sifuentes, Oliver Herring (co-curated with Barry Blinderman), Gina Hunt, Stanya Kahn, Laura Letinsky, Cecil McDonald Jr. (co-curated), Basim Magdy, Ebony G. Patterson, Melanie Schiff, Carrie Schneider, Shinique Smith, Deb Sokolow, Edra Soto, and Lori Waxman, among others. Her group exhibitions include An Infinite and Omnivorous Sky, Strange Oscillations and Vibrations of Sympathy, The House of the Seven Gables, Orison for the Forest, and but you gave me flowers. She has edited and supervised the publication of twelve exhibition catalogues at University Galleries. Paitz's essays and interviews have been published by University Galleries of Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois; Tisch School of the Arts, New York University; Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago; Daylight Books; Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa; and Golden Parachutes, Berlin. She has been the Principal Investigator for grants awarded by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, and Target, among others.
Terry Adkins: Soldier Shepherd Prophet Martyr, Video from 1998-2013
Curated by Kendra Paitz and on view at University Galleries of Illinois State University in 2016
William Cordova: kuntur: sacred geometries
Curated by Kendra Paitz and on view at University Galleries of Illinois State University in 2018
University Galleries: https://galleries.illinoisstate.edu/
Kendra Paitz: http://www.kendrapaitz.com/
Program Link | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87265415141?pwd=Sm9wMnFlbVRnL0JPRHpNeVNnRnhGdz09
Meeting ID: 872 6541 5141
Passcode: 910100
For more info or upcoming dates - click here.
Senior Morning | "T. REX: The Ultimate Predator"
Wed, Jul 14 | 10:30 am
Zoom
Join us for our bi-monthly free Senior Morning Lecture Series! This special educational program began more than 30 years ago at our predecessor museum, Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences. Advanced registration required, limited connections.
This month our presentation is by Curator of Science & Planetarium Director Renae Kerrigan. Learn about our new exhibition "T.REX: The Ultimate Predator"!
Register in advance - Click Here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The Senior Morning Lecture Series takes place on the second Wednesday of every OTHER month and is free for seniors.
Peoria Riverfront Museum gratefully acknowledges our Senior Morning Lecture Series & Senior Free Days sponsor, Kim Blickenstaff.
Laser Light Night: David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Queen
Dome Planetarium
Fri. July 16
6:00 pm | Laser Bowie
7:15 pm | Laser Lady Gaga
8:30 pm | Laser Queen
Sit back, relax, look up and rock out! Listen to some of your favorite music from David Bowie, Daft Punk, and Queen - while being dazzled with the multicolored laser light show on the Dome. Enhance your experience - pick up spectrum glasses and refreshments from our concession stand and enjoy the show! 35-50 min. (Note: These shows contain lyrics to popular songs and some may not be suitable for all ages.)
$5 Members | $8 Public
*Multi-show discount available: $2 off for 2 shows & $3 off for three shows per patron.
(For combo-priced tickets call 309.686.7000, or visit the ticket desk in person.)
Buy tickets online now - click here
Tickets & more info also available at the Museum or by phone: 309.686.7000.
Fri, July 16 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
The Day the Earth Stood Still, 1951. USA. Directed by Robert Wise.
Unlike Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Day the Earth Stood Still was given a hefty $1 million budget and positioned as a major event cinematic. Robert Wise was already an established A-list director, who’s career began in the early ‘30s. In 1940 and ’41, he worked with Orson Welles on the difficult, detailed and highly effecting editing of Citizen Kane and its follow-up, The Magnificent Ambersons. Wise won a Best Director Oscar for 1959’s West Side Story, another for 1965’s The Sound of Music, and the following year his The San Pebbles, starring Steve McQueen, was nominated for Best Picture of the year (an award category that goes to the producer, not the director). He lost to Fred Zinnemann’s A Man For All Seasons, but was awarded the prestigious Irving Thalberg Memorial Award.
Out of the nearly 70 films Wise directed, The Day the Earth Stood Still comes in the middle of his career. 1951 was the same year HUAC and Hollywood were in full blacklist mode and the “Ban the Bomb” protests reached their peak. A mere 6 years after the end of World War 2 and the nuclear bombing of Japan, the Soviet Union had obtained their own Atomic Bomb, China had a revolution that resulted in the Communist takeover, the Rosenbergs were executed, and the world seemed on the brink of another World War that, this time, was sure to end with nuclear annihilation.
Based on a 1950 short story written by Edward H. North in 1940, a simple invasion-from-outer-space tale, Julian Blaustein, then a major producer at Fox, bought it directly to Daryl F. Zanuck, one of the founding heads of Fox, and convinced him to make the film. Blaustein wanted to update the original story to bring it into the nuclear age, or as some people called it back then, the age of nuclear angst. Blaustein assigned Wise to direct and assured him an A-list cast. It stars the always wonderful, effervescent Patricia Neal in the female lead, Michael Rennie as Klaatu, her Christ-like mentor, his faithful robot “Gort,” played by 7’7” Lock Martin, an usher at the time for Grauman’s Chinese Theater chosen for his size, and the venerable Sam Jaffe as the “Einstein”-type moral high-road scientist. For my generation, the words “Klaatu, verada, niktu” became part of our everyday one-to-one vocabulary, and you’ll discover why when you see the film. This is one of those pictures that carries a message as timely in 1951 as it is today – the world must live in peace.
Shot on the back lot of the Fox studios (now a series of hi-rises known as “Century City”), with exteriors filmed at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland, The Day the Earth Stood Still was an instant hit with audiences. It made a star out of the British-born Rennie, reinvigorated Neal’s illustrious, if fading career and influenced a future generation of filmmakers, most notably George Lucas and Stanley Kubrick. In 1995, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
- Marc Eliot
T. REX PARTY | Family Friendly!
Hosted by Dustin Growick + Kristina Gustovich from Atlas Obscura’s Dino 101!
Thu, Jul 21 | 6 pm
LIVE on Zoom
Don your favorite dinosaur gear and get ready for interactive games and activities as we celebrate the greatest group of animals to ever exist! One connection needed per household.
$15 Member Virtual Connection | $20 Public Virtual Connection
Buy tickets online now - click here.
Dustin Growick
After graduating with a M.A. in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from SUNY Stony Brook, Dustin dedicated himself to studying the way science institutions engage, educate, and entertain…from the inside. Then, in the private sector, Dustin helped build Museum Hack into a million dollar tour business while spearheading its consulting work with cultural institutions across the globe. Now operating independently, Dustin creates unique and engaging adult museum experiences that attract new audiences. Additionally, you should know that Dustin really loves dinosaurs—he raced a T. rex on his Youtube channel, created and hosts Atlas Obscura’s Dino 101, and teamed with DK Books to write two dinosaur encyclopedias.
Kristina Gustovich
MS in Geology from Western Washington University, MA in Teaching Earth Science from the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History. Middle school science teacher, geologist, improviser, and museum megastan.
Viewing Room | New Philadelphia
How a Black man freed his family and founded an abolitionist village in Central Illinois
Thu, Jul 22 | 6:30 pm
LIVE! Streamed through the Riverfront Museum Facebook
The great-great-grandson of Frank McWorter and his wife will present a lively account full of images of how New Philadelphia came to be in 1831, and what happened next. Frank was the first Black man in the U.S. to plat and register a town. Townspeople fought for slavery in seven ways and much is known about each one of the seven. The story continues into the 20st century, with local history activists, living descendants, and professional archaeologists unearthing more details about life in 19th century New Philadelphia.
Gerald McWorter (Abdul Alkalimat) is a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois. He has researched, taught and lectured about African American history and culture around the world, only to find himself writing about his own family late in life. A lifetime scholar-activist raised in Chicago, he earned his PhD from the University of Chicago and just finished two books on the history and future of Black Studies.
Kate Williams-McWorter is an associate professor at the University of Illinois who educates future librarians. She was glad to learn that McWorter women live long lives, and to discover that her own Texas background includes not only confederate soldiers but also one person who helped stop an 1860 lynching.
Check out the new book New Philadelphia, available online at www.abebooks.com, or from the New Philadelphia Association website.
Fri, July 23 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
DINOSAURS! | Thursday Night Trivia Series - ADULTS ONLY!
Hosted by Dustin Growick + Kristina Gustovich from The Dinosaur Show + Atlas Obscura’s Dino 101!
Thu, Jul 29 | 8 pm
LIVE on Zoom
Don your favorite dinosaur gear and get ready for an educational adults-only evening of interactive games, activities, trivia, and prizes as we celebrate the greatest group of animals to ever exist! Bring your team name ready to go and let the games begin. The champions of trivia night win a chance to come back and defend their title at the next session!
$15 Member Virtual Connection | $20 Public Virtual Connection
Buy tickets online now - click here.
Coming Up Next!
Jurassic Park Trivia Night | Thu, Aug 26 - click here.
Dustin Growick
After graduating with a M.A. in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from SUNY Stony Brook, Dustin dedicated himself to studying the way science institutions engage, educate, and entertain…from the inside. Then, in the private sector, Dustin helped build Museum Hack into a million dollar tour business while spearheading its consulting work with cultural institutions across the globe. Now operating independently, Dustin creates unique and engaging adult museum experiences that attract new audiences. Additionally, you should know that Dustin really loves dinosaurs—he raced a T. rex on his Youtube channel, created and hosts Atlas Obscura’s Dino 101, and teamed with DK Books to write two dinosaur encyclopedias.
Kristina Gustovich
MS in Geology from Western Washington University, MA in Teaching Earth Science from the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History. Middle school science teacher, geologist, improviser, and museum megastan.
Fri, July 30 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
Fri, Aug 6 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
Virtual Art Club via Zoom
Featuring artist, Allison Walsh
Tue, Aug 10 | 1 pm
Join us for virtual Art Club! Art Club is a monthly meeting of people who love art. Each month we hear about a different artist or topic. We encourage artists to come talk about their own work, a style they love, or another artist they admire. Enjoy a casual discussion with PowerPoint slides. Participants are encouraged, though not required, to ask questions and discuss pieces of art presented.
This month, artist Allison Walsh will be presenting their own work while you enjoy coffee and treats at your home.
Program Link | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86105069619?pwd=cnZ2c1loYVJFaUduZk80UmVXWTAxUT09
Meeting ID: 861 0506 9619
Passcode: 621081
Allison Walsh is an independent documentary filmmaker, freelance videographer, and fine artist, who is committed to local political advocacy and documenting social issues in the Midwest. Walsh’s films have screened around the world including Paris, France (Paris Art and Movie Awards), Sayulita, Mexico (Festival Sayulita), Barcelona, Spain (BSF2019), and Chicago, Illinois (Pride Film Fest, Femme Filmmakers Showcase). Walsh is the founder and program director of the Big Picture Film Festival, an international film festival in Peoria, IL (2018-2019). She is a recipient of the Kartemquin Emerging Storytellers Fund (2019), Illinois Arts Council Individual Artist Program (2019), and the Acorn Equality Grant (2018), awarded to work that positively impacts the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons and allies. She has been invited to speak about her films at Western Illinois University and the El Paso Museum of History.
Walsh holds a degree from Bradley University where she studied Painting, Spanish, and Philosophy. She is a graduate of the internship program at Kartemquin Films in Chicago. During her time at Kartemquin, she worked on the documentary film Dilemma of Desire (SXSW, 2020), led by the Emmy and Peabody award-winning director Maria Finitzo, and City So Real (Sundance, 2020), led by the Oscar-nominated director Steve James. Her current film, Teaching About Religion (working title), is in post-production.
My website is AllisonWalshArtist.com
For more info or upcoming dates - click here.
Laser Light Night: Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
Dome Planetarium
Fri, Aug 13
6 pm | Laser Gaga
7:15 pm | Laser Bowie
8:30 pm | Laser Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
Sit back, relax, look up and rock out! Listen to some of your favorite music from The Beatles - while being dazzled with the multicolored laser light show on the Dome. Enhance your experience - pick up spectrum glasses and refreshments from our concession stand and enjoy the show! 35-50 min. (Note: These shows contain lyrics to popular songs and some may not be suitable for all ages.)
$5 Members | $8 Public
*Multi-show discount available: $2 off for 2 shows & $3 off for three shows per patron.
(For combo price tickets call 309.686.7000 or visit the ticket desk in person)
Buy tickets online now -
click here
.
Tickets & more info also available at the Museum or by phone: 309.686.7000.
Click Here for the full Laser Light Nights Schedule
Fri, Aug 13 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
Fri, Aug 20 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
DINOSAURS! | Thursday Night Trivia Series - ADULTS ONLY!
Hosted by Dustin Growick + Kristina Gustovich from The Dinosaur Show + Atlas Obscura’s Dino 101!
Thu, Aug 26 | 8 pm
LIVE on Zoom
Grab a drink and round up your squad for a ridiculous, irreverent, T. rex-tastic adults-only evening of trivia, games, and prizes...as we celebrate inarguably the greatest achievement in the history of cinema. Bring your team name ready to go and let the games begin.
$15 Member Virtual Connection | $20 Public Virtual Connection
Buy tickets online now - click here.
Dustin Growick
After graduating with a M.A. in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from SUNY Stony Brook, Dustin dedicated himself to studying the way science institutions engage, educate, and entertain…from the inside. Then, in the private sector, Dustin helped build Museum Hack into a million dollar tour business while spearheading its consulting work with cultural institutions across the globe. Now operating independently, Dustin creates unique and engaging adult museum experiences that attract new audiences. Additionally, you should know that Dustin really loves dinosaurs—he raced a T. rex on his Youtube channel, created and hosts Atlas Obscura’s Dino 101, and teamed with DK Books to write two dinosaur encyclopedias.
Kristina Gustovich
MS in Geology from Western Washington University, MA in Teaching Earth Science from the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History. Middle school science teacher, geologist, improviser, and museum megastan.
Fri. Aug 27 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
Fri, Sep 3 | 6:30 PM
Tickets | CLICK HERE
Join us for our new weekly film series in the Giant Screen Theater, "Marc Eliot’s Art of Film," with The New York Times Best-Selling Author! Peoria Riverfront Museum is pleased to announce the residency of film critic and historian Marc Eliot, who is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture and biographies on Hollywood icons. Marc has personally selected each of the films in the "Art of Film" series and provides virtual commentary for each film before and after the film's screening at the museum.
Laser Light Night | Beatles, Bowie, Gaga
Fri, September 10
6 pm | Laser Beatles 7:15 pm | Laser David Bowie 8:30 pm | Laser Lady Gaga
Planetarium
Sit back, relax, look up and rock out! Listen to your favorite music - The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, U2, and more - while being dazzled by the multicolored laser light show on the Dome. Enhance your experience - pick up spectrum glasses and refreshments from our concession stand and enjoy the show! 35-50 min. (Note: These shows contain lyrics to popular songs and some may not be suitable for all ages.)
$5 Members | $7 Public
*Multi-show discount available: $2 off for 2 shows & $3 off for three shows per patron.
(For combo price tickets call 309.686.7000 or visit the ticket desk in person)
Buy tickets online now
Tickets & more info also available at the Museum or by phone at 309.686.7000.
To view the full Laser Light Nights Schedule - click here.
For more information or questions calling 309.686.7000
