SerpApi.Org
The Webb County Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with the Imaginarium of South Texas, will launch its inaugural Noche de Museos: Junior Edition, a special evening designed for young museum explorers and their families to explore, discover and learn. The program begins July 24.
Andrea Ordoñez, director of operations for the Webb County Heritage Foundation, said the organization is grateful to the Imaginarium of South Texas for partnering on the initiative and making learning fun and accessible for young audiences.
“We wanted to create a family-friendly evening experience that encourages children and their families to explore local museums together,” Ordoñez said. “Programs like Noche de Museos: Junior Edition remind us that museums are places for everyone and that history, science and culture are best experienced when families discover them together.”
Ordoñez said the Border Heritage Museum is currently featuring the exhibit “Ancient Landscapes of South Texas,” which includes fossils such as a mammoth tusk, molar and femur; a fossilized palm frond; giant oysters; projectile points; and other artifacts that tell the story of the region’s natural and cultural history.
“Knowing that the Imaginarium offers a popular dinosaur dig activity, we saw a natural connection between the exhibit and their programming,” she said. “It felt like the perfect opportunity to bring our organizations together and create a fun, educational experience that encourages curiosity and discovery.”
Noche de Museos: Junior Edition will take place Friday, July 24, from 6-9 p.m., giving children and their families the opportunity to visit participating museums, complete hands-on activities and earn stamps along the way.
Participants will travel to three locations, each offering a unique experience:
- Republic of the Rio Grande Museum (1005 Zaragoza St.): Become a junior curator by exploring exhibits and learning about the artifacts that help tell the story of Laredo’s past.
- Border Heritage Museum (810 Zaragoza St.): Become a junior archaeologist while exploring the “Ancient Landscapes of South Texas: Hiding in Plain Sight” exhibit and learning about the region’s prehistoric past.
- Imaginarium of South Texas (Laredo College Fort McIntosh campus-West End Washington St. Building P-149): Become a fossil finder and discover the fascinating world of fossils, dinosaurs and extinction through hands-on activities.
As children complete activities at each location, they will collect stamps on their event cards.
Participants who complete all three experiences will receive small prizes along the way and earn a commemorative “Museum Crew” certificate recognizing their achievement.
Families who are unable to attend July 24 will have additional opportunities to participate July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14 and Sept. 11. Activities may be completed over multiple visits, with Sept. 11 serving as the final opportunity to earn a certificate.
Ordoñez said the program allows families to explore millions of years of South Texas’ geological history, learn about the people who shaped the community and discover how museums help preserve those stories for future generations.
“Laredo has an incredible story to tell, and it begins long before the city was founded,” she said. “We hope families will take this opportunity to spend time together, explore our museums, ask questions and spark a lifelong curiosity about history, science and culture.”
Ordoñez said the Imaginarium of South Texas has been a wonderful partner and that the organizations hope to continue collaborating on future programs.
“While the activities may change to reflect future exhibits and themes, we are exploring ways to continue the junior editions of Noche de Museos and similar family-focused experiences beyond September,” she said. “Our hope is that this becomes an annual tradition and the beginning of many future collaborations.”
Ordoñez invited the Laredo community to participate in the program, complete the missions and create lasting memories along the way.
“We want families to know that museums are for them,” she said. “Sometimes parents assume museums are not designed for young children or worry that the experience may feel overwhelming. These special evenings create a welcoming environment where children and their grown-ups can explore together, ask questions and discover the stories that make our community special.
“We hope this event inspires curiosity and helps young visitors see museums as places where discovery happens every day.”
