Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Dinosaurs and turtles are what you can expect if you visit the Omni Theatre in Lubbock.
Editor's note: As we begin to see COVID-19 in our rear-view mirrors, travelers are cautiously returning to the roads. This series offers destination options for eastern New Mexico-area residents looking to get away for a few days.
Exploration has been a key element of many for years. Vikings delved into the raging sea to find their fortunes, Joseph Swan traveled the depths of invention, and now people can be pirates, knights, and even monster hunters through technology. Lubbock Science Spectrum and Omni Theatre brings the explorer out of all their guests with applied science experiences.
The facility is a hub of education. It includes over 150 hands-on science and technology exhibits, the only aquarium in West Texas, and a 55-foot dome movie screen. It is a non-profit educational corporation, as well as a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers
The Spectrum was first an idea in 1984. A group of local citizens discussed education and cultural opportunities and thought a science museum would be the perfect fit. Just two years later, a board of members was created and the Science Spectrum began its first steps.
In 1988, the first exhibit premiered was the traveling exhibit "Light and Sight" at the South Plains Mall. The Science Spectrum held its grand opening as a permanent museum just a year later. As it grew as a local attraction, the museum ended up moving to its present location in 1993. The Science museum has premiered 44 traveling exhibits in the past 25 years and has been a huge source of education for many.
What to expect:
The Science Spectrum has various special, and permanent, exhibits, classes, a gift shop, and shows at the Omni Theatre.
The Omni Theatre is currently showing three films; "Turtle Odyssey," "Into America's Wild," and "Dinosaurs of Antarctica."
"Turtle Odyssey" shows the journey through the ocean alongside the turtles. "America's Wild" allows guests to connect with their inner trailblazer on a cross-country journey to little-known landscapes of North America. "Dinosaurs of Antarctica" explores a changing environment at the bottom of the world, but also introducing recent fossil discoveries.
While the Science Spectrum contains 15 permanent exhibits, it is currently hosting one special exhibit.
Special exhibit:
Out of this World is an exhibit that celebrates outer space, astronauts, and space travel. The exhibit was displayed on Aug. 4 and will go until Sept. 24. Guests will be able to explore NASA memorabilia from the Johnson Space Station and an exhibit of artwork by Alan Bean, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Paul Calle, and others. Access to this exhibit is included in the admission price.
Hours and admission:
Current hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets for the Science Spectrum are $8.50 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. For the Omni Theatre, prices remain the same. For a combination of both, it is $14.50 for adults and $12 for children and seniors.
For more information regarding members, non-school groups, or school groups, visit their website.
Where is it:
The Lubbock Science Spectrum and Omni Theatre is two hours southeast of Clovis. The address is 2579 S. Loop 289, Suite 250 Lubbock.
For more information:
Visit their website at http://www.sciencespectrum.org
