X Marks the Spot
at the Wilbur D. May Museum By Samantha Szesciorka
T
he new spring exhibit at the Wilbur D. May Museum uncovers the world of hidden wealth and proves that all that glitters is not gold! Treasure: Riches, Rogues, and Relics celebrates the history of found treasure through the stories of notorious pirates, famous rulers and lucky archaeologists. But along with gold and silver, the exhibit explores other kinds of treasures and challenges visitors to look at the world a little differently. Treasure includes elements to enthrall visitors of all ages. The Museum’s garden court introduces guests to the Golden Age of Piracy. Giant animatronic squid, shark, and sea monsters move and hiss, revealing the myths and mysteries of the ocean. Realistic mannequins fill out the room and explain the difference between pirates and privateers. Visitors can stand next to Queen Elizabeth as she knights Sir Francis Drake, and spy on Anne Bonny and Calico Jack as they divvy up their horde in the cove nearby. But watch out! Blackbeard is lurking in the trees. Peering inside an Aztec temple reveals a holographic transformation of a man into Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent deity of ancient Mesoamerica. Here visitors transition to exploring the treasures of ancient civilization. More than 100 beautiful artifacts from the dawn of civilization are on display, including pottery, cuneiform tablets, bronze and metal sculpture, currency, and weapons. The breathtaking timeline of objects, on loan from the Origins Museum Institute, traces the appearance and progression of ancient cultures. There is also a rare cast of the
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famous Lucy skeleton. Another room is dedicated solely to treasures of Nevada, including dozens of authentic gem and mineral specimens. Visitors can get up close to stunning pieces of obsidian, turquoise, amethyst, sulfur, and even a real chunk of gold ore. Native American treasures on display include duck decoys made out of reeds, a stone mano and metate, and illustrations by renowned artist Robert Cole Caples. Other local treasures include a beautifully preserved bighorn sheep and bobcat. To cap the experience, visitors also get admittance to the permanent museum collection, which features a lifetime of treasures collected by the Museum’s namesake Wilbur D. May. The collection spans thousands of years and hundreds of cultures, with rare and exotic artifacts on display including Japanese swords, Polynesian statues, African tribal masks, Egyptian tomb items, European guns and everything in between. The May Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm, Sunday, noon to 4pm. Admission to Treasure and the May Collection is $9 for adults, $8 for children and seniors, and free for children 2 and under. For more information, call 775-785-5961 or visit www.maycenter.com.
April 2014