Cultural Attractions
Cultural Attractions
Once the private home of Margaret and Hugo Dixon, the gallery and gardens that now bear their name opened to the public after the couple died in 1974. The Dixons were art lovers and avid collectors, and their legacy includes a veritable treasure of fine art. The house, the 17 acres of formal gardens that surround it, and the art collection are now operated as a private museum opened to the public throughout the year.
Today, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens has one of the nation's most intriguing collections of French and American Impressionism, with a healthy sampling of 18th-century British portraiture and landscapes as well. Among the Impressionist painters represented: Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Among the British masters: Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir Henry Raeburn, John Constable, and J.M.W. Turner. Another permanent feature is the Stout Collection of 18th-century porcelain, one of the most complete in the country.
In 1988 the Dixon attracted thousands to see "The Passion of Rodin," a collection of 45 sculptures from the collection of B. Gerald Cantor. Since then, an immensely successful exhibition of paintings and prints by the French artist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, along with showings of "The Armand Hammer Collection," "The Sara Lee Collection," and the "Degas Collection," has further solidified the Dixon's reputation.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Admission: Adults, $5; students, $3; seniors 60 or older, $4; children four to 12, $1; senior 65 or older, free on Tuesdays; gardens only, Mondays, half price.
From the only collection of Renaissance art in Tennessee to one of the finest collections of English portraiture and landscapes in the South, the list of influential artists with work appearing in the Brooks Museum reads like a who's who of art through the ages. Brooks' Renaissance collection includes works by Jacopo del Sallaio, Girolamo Romanino, and Jacopo Bassano. The Moss Collection of Renaissance and Baroque works includes paintings by Salmon van Ruysdael, Pieter Boel, and Sir Anthony Van Dyck.
Brooks' "Art from the Mid-South" collection shows off the work of nationally known local artists like painter Carroll Cloar and photographer William Eggleston (the first photographer to have an exhibit of color photographs in New York's Museum of Modern Art). Recent, less-modern acquisitions have expanded the scope of Brooks' collection back in time to the Hellenistic and even to the classical Roman eras.
Brooks also offers an intriguing gift shop on the premises, as well as an elegant restaurant, and special lectures, films, and demonstrations are regular features. Award-winning structural additions to the museum, moreover, have lately doubled the space available for exhibits and collections, adding to the museum's versatility and allowing it to rise in stature as one of the region's premier fine arts facilities.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Admission: Free on Fridays; other days $4 for adults, $2 for students and seniors; free for children under six.
This fine, local art institution frequently exhibits the works of its students and faculty, many of whom have international reputations. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:40 p.m.
Everything from model trains to medieval swords has been displayed in this unique attraction overlooking the Mississippi River just off Interstate 55 south of downtown Memphis. Cast- and forged-iron items, precious metals, sculpture, and weaponry have been included in the museum's ongoing series of temporary exhibitions. Its permanent collection includes 19th-century iron furniture, fences, kitchen utensils, pressed-tin ceilings panels, a New Orleans-style cornstalk cast-iron fence, and a diorama complete with Victorian blacksmith's tools. Also featured is an outdoor sculpture garden-all right on the Mississippi River bluffs.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Admission: $2 for adults, $1 for students and seniors; free for children under five.
The highlight of the U of M gallery, which also features temporary exhibitions, faculty and student art, and regional art, is its 44-piece collection of Egyptian art and artifacts-the only such collection in the region. Among the objects from Egyptian tombs are a wooden model of a boat dating from about 2000 B.C. and two mummies.
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Admission free.
OTHER MUSEUMS & TEACHING FACILITIES
Located in a WPA-era building that once was a National Guard Armory, the Children's Museum of Memphis mixes fantasy and reality to come up with an educational experience for children 12 and under that feels like just plain fun. Indeed, a stated goal of this place is to "instill the lifelong attitude that learning is fun."
Hands-on exhibits here include children's versions of everything from fire trucks to grocery stores, automobiles to manholes, and even a whole "Time Square" that explores-through a giant mechanical clock and a wall of gears-time, its measurement, and nothing less than infinity itself.
The museum is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission is $4 for children and senior citizens; $5 for adults. Admission is free for museum members.
Located amid the tangle of busy streets and bustling office and shopping areas of East Memphis is a 60-acre oasis of natural beauty. Lichterman Nature Center is preserved as an "urban natural area," where wildlife and plant life thrive as they did before man set this indelible mark upon the landscape. The center features several educational walking trails, including paths cut through dense forest, as well as around (and over) a marshy lake. An observation tower and greenhouse are also located on the grounds.
Open throughout the year, Lichterman Nature Center is serene retreat in the midst of the frantic pace of the city, a welcome reminder that the world of nature is a treasure worth preserving. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 children, and free for children under six.
The splendors of nature abound at the Memphis Botanic Garden/Goldsmith Civic Garden Center, located in Audobon Park. Although the name is a bit daunting-the management prefers that people think of it as the Memphis Botanic Garden, home of the Goldsmith Civic Garden Center-the beauty of the place is singular.
On 88 acres of carefully tended parkland, the Memphis Botanic Garden features a wealth of trees, shrubs, flowers, and walking trails, as well as a scenic Japanese Garden surrounding a serene lake. The Rose Garden features more than 4,000 plants, while other special gardens-including a Sensory Garden for the disabled-are filled with stunning specimens. Special springtime treats include the azalea and dogwood trails, while the perennial and herb collections are also seasonal favorites.
The Goldsmith Civic Garden Center, housed in a building located at the entrance to the Botanic Garden, contains tropical plants, cacti, a complete horti-cultural reference library, and a gift shop. Special shows each year feature bonsai, orchids, irises, and African violets, while educational programs are held periodically for both adults and children.
The gardens are open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children, and free for children under 6.
Located in and adjacent to the home built by grocery store magnate Clarence Saunders is Memphis' natural history museum and planetarium. The Pink Palace, as it's commonly called, is the largest museum in the state, and one of the largest in the Southeast. The museum has been recently renovated to include a new underground education wing featuring classrooms, labs, and an IMAX (maximum image) theater.
Permanent displays include a moving dinosaur (a favorite with kids) and a geology exhibit tracing 4.6 billion years of the earth's history, as well as a re-creation of the first Piggly Wiggly grocery store. The planetarium-one of the 20 largest in the nation-is one of only four in the country that produce and market their own programs. In addition to astronomical fare, the planetarium also features laser light shows and special presentations.
The museum is opened daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $3.50 for children 12 and under, $5.50 for adults.
Housed in and adjacent to the former Lorraine Motel-where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was gunned down in 1968-the National Civic Rights Museum centers around exhibits that focus on major events in the history of the civil rights movement in America. The exhibit trace the struggle from the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954 to the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike that brought King to the city. The most emotional section of the museum is the balcony where King's room can be viewed as it was the day he was assassinated.
The new museum is truly a living testament to the ideas and actions of all those who have fought for civil rights in this country. The museum is open every day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free for children under five, $3 for ages 6-12, $4 for those 13-24, $4 for senior citizens, and $5 for all other adults.
THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM
From pre-historic to the present, the Reading Public Museum's permanent collection includes over one half million objects related to art, science and history.
Journey through the solar system or catch a shining star at the Planetarium
Learn about our ever changing world through exciting temporary exhibits, lectures, concerts and demonstrations
Explore our 25 acre Arboretum alive with hundreds of flowering trees, shrubs and sculptural highlights.
500 Museum Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19611 610-371-5850
Hours of Museum Operation
Wednesday through Saturday 10 am - 4 pm; Sunday 12 noon - 4 pm
Hours of Planetarium Operation
Show times, most Sundays 2 pm and 3 pm, call 610-371-5850 for
schedule
Museum & Planetarium Admission
$3.00 Adults, $2.00 Children 4-17 years, Children under 4 years
Free Museum and Planetarium priced separately. Rates may vary on
special event weekends.
Location
Nestled in historical Berks County, the Museum is located at 500
Museum Road, easy access from major highways, the Pennsylvania
Turnpike and minutes from Route 422
For tours and information call
610-371-5850
Be sure to ask about the savings and benefits of membership!
The Museum Shop
The Museum Shop offers a unique selection of fun & educational merchandise for all ages, plus exceptional books, gifts, jewelry and stationery. Open during Museum hours.
BERKS COUNTY MUSEUM COUNCIL
The sites and sounds of Berks County's Museums and Historic Sites
1995 Calendar of Events
BERKS COUNTY HERITAGE
CENTER
Phone: 610-374-8839
June 4
Acoustic Music Mini Fest
June 10 & 11
Civil War Living History Encampment
June 25
Pennsylvania German Day
July 23
Fine Arts Day
October 7 & 8
Heritage Celebration
December 3-30
Holiday Lights
BOYERTOWN MUSEUM OF
HISTORIC VEHICLES
Phone: 610-367-2090
September 2 & 3
Duryea Days Antique and Classic Car Show and Flea Market -
Boyertown Park
CONRAD WEISER HOMESTEAD
Phone: 610-589-2934
May 6 & 7
French and Indian War Encampment
June 18
Living History Day
July 16
Living History Day
August 20
Living History Day
December 2
Holiday Candlelight Tours
DANIEL BOONE HOMESTEAD
Phone: 610-582-4900
May 20 & 21
Revolutionary War Encampment
June 3
Evening on the Green
July 4
Independence Day Militia Muster
October 15
Architectural Heritage Day
December 10
A Homestead Christmas
HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST OF
BERKS COUNTY
Phone: 610-385-4762
September 30
The 30th Annual Mouns Jones Country Fair - Old Morlatton Village,
Douglassville
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF BERKS
COUNTY AND MUSEUM
Phone: 610-375-4375
March 19 - June 30
History of Women
April 22 - June 30
Dollhouses and Miniatures
June 11
Walking Tour of Reading's Downtown Churches
September 15 - March 6, 1996
Berks County Tall Clocks
HOPEWELL FURNACE NATIONAL HISTORIC
SITE
Phone 610-582-8773
May 14
Sheep Shearing
August 6
Establishment Day
August 25
National Parks Day
September 30
Apple Harvest Day
December 10
Iron Plantation Christmas
MID ATLANTIC AIR MUSEUM
Phone: 610-372-7333
June 3 & 4
Fifth Annual World War Two Commemorative Weekend
September 30 & October 1
"Planes, Trains and Automobiles"
May - November
Airplane Ride Weekends
(second weekend of each month)
OLD DRY ROAD FARM
P.O. Box 163, Wernersville 19565
September 24
Fall Festival
READING COMPANY TECHNICAL AND
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Phone: 610-926-0253
Modular Model Railroad Setup
April 20 - 23
Manufacturer's Outlet Mall
June 8 - 11
Fairgrounds Square Mall
June 30 - July 2
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
November 29 - December 3
Christmas Arts & Crafts Show -
Farm Show Building,
Harrisburg, PA
December 13 -17
Schuylkill Mall, Frackville, PA
READING PUBLIC MUSEUM
Phone: 610-371-5850
March 25 - May 21
Streamlined Design, Exhibition of Art Deco Objects
July 8 & 9
American Indian Weekend
July 22 - September 30
Art & Technology, A Group Exhibition Of Art For The End Of
The Century
September 16 - 17
Discover Your Museum - Annual Open House
October - December
Dinamations "Whales" - Exhibition
CALVARESI WINERY
1/2 Mile Off Route 183
Bernville, PA
The Official Winery of Berks County
We welcome your visit and invite you to enjoy the many award-winning wines produced by our small (11,000 gallon), family-owned winery, where quality is placed before quantity.
The winery began in the basement of a city row home in Reading, PA in 1981 with 600 gallons. Within 3 years, we had rapidly grown to 3,000 gallons. Recognizing the need for expansion, we purchased six acres in Bernville, PA. Our winery was completed in August of 1988, and has a current production of 11,000 gallons annually, produced by pressing 30 tons of grapes and 10 tons of fruit varieties.
Our wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures to retain the crisp, fruity, Germanic style of wine making.
Parking, tours, and tasting are free.
CALVARESI VARIETAL WINES
WHITE WINES
CHARDONNAY - This dry white was barrel fermented in toasted French oak and received extended lees contact "Sue Lie", to achieve its rich creamy character, with toasted-citrus and a touch of vanilla and black pepper in the finish.
AURORA - Semi-dry, light, and flowery with an apple like after taste; much like German Mosel. This wine has won many medals in State and National competitions. Excellent with fish or poultry.
VIDAL - If you like a crisp, semi-dry white wine with an apricot and apple character; this is your wine. Recent Bronze Medal Winner at the PA Wine Competition at Penn State University.
SEYVAL - If you like a spicy, lemony, semi-sweet, Rhine style, with a grapefruit finish; this is your wine. We ferment this wine at very cool temperatures in stainless steel with a special German yeast to achieve this character.
NIAGARA - This old native variety has a fresh grape flavor and aroma that is excelled when chilled. An excellent summertime drink. Just like the grapes grown in Grandma's backyard.
RED WINES
CABERNET FRANC - This soft, gentle with light tannirs, aged in French oak barrels, has a rich cherry and plum character with hints of spice and cedar in the finish.
BACO NOIR - Semi-dry, medium-bodied, silky, red wine with a plum, raspberry and cranberry character, like Merlot; many time medal winner. Excellent with Italian food or steak. Ages well.
CONCORD - This anytime red has a refreshing, grape flavor and aroma, but not overly sweet. Very popular. Excellent with fruit and cheese.
BLUSH WINES
WIDOW'S BLUSH - A real favorite, zin-like, spicy and clean, with hints of strawberries and peaches in the nose and taste. This variety was named after Widow Finney's fine colonial restaurant.
FRUIT VARIETIES - LIMITED QUANTITIES
Please watch for our ad in the daily papers announcing new varieties.