Arts & Industry Council - Events Calendar

Screening of “Darwin’s Darkest Hour”

Type:
Special Event

Dates:

Date: 3/9/2010
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Contact:

Jennifer Sellers

Contact Phone:

269-965-5117

Cost:

none

Venue/Location:

Kingman Museum

Address:

175 Limit Street
(map it)

City:

Battle Creek

Zip:

49017

Phone:

269.965.5117

Email:

Website:

www.kingmanmuseum.org

ABOUT THE EVENT

Kingman Museum Celebrates Charles Darwin with a free screening of “Darwin’s Darkest Hour”

Kingman Museum will be celebrating Charles Darwin with a free screening of the film, “Darwin’s Darkest Hour,” on March 9, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. The celebrated English naturalist published his landmark book On the Origin of Species in 1859 and with it introduced the world to the scientific theory of evolution through the process of natural selection. This NOVA produced film chronicles the publication of that book. The film is approximately two hours long and starts at 6:00 p.m. Local school teachers will receive professional development credit for attending. The free screening will be held in Kingman’s Community Planetarium.

This two-hour scripted drama tells the remarkable story behind the unveiling of the most influential scientific theory of all time, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. The program is a special presentation from NOVA and National Geographic Television, written by acclaimed British screenwriter John Goldsmith and directed by John Bradshaw.

Darwin, portrayed by Henry Ian Cusick (Lost), spent years refining his ideas and penning what he called his "big book." Yet, daunted by looming conflict with the orthodox religious values of his day, he resisted publishing–until a letter from naturalist Alfred Wallace forced his hand. In 1858, Darwin learned that Wallace was ready to publish ideas very similar to his own. In a sickened panic, Darwin grasped his dilemma: To delay publishing any longer would be to condemn his greatest work to obscurity–the brilliant argument he had pieced together with clues from his voyage on the Beagle, his adventures in the Andes, the bizarre fossils of Patagonia, the finches and giant tortoises of the Galapagos, as well as the British countryside. But to come forward with his ideas risked the fury of the Church and perhaps a rift with his own devoted wife Emma, portrayed by Frances O'Connor (Mansfield Park, The Importance of Being Earnest), who was a devout Christian.

Kingman Museum is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to provide lifelong learning opportunities in natural history, the universe, and world cultures for all ages for all time. Winter Hours at Kingman Museum are 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday; and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Planetarium shows are Fridays at 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 1:15, 2:15, 3:15, and 4:15 p.m. Museum admission is $18.00 for a family (up to 6 individuals), $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors and veterans, $4.00 for students, and free for children under 2 year of age. General admission includes a planetarium show during regularly scheduled planetarium hours. For adult Kingman Museum members, the planetarium fee is $1. Kingman Museum is located at 175 Limit Street in Battle Creek. More information can be found on its website www.kingmanmuseum.org or by calling 269-965-5117.