Celebrating Dr. King's legacy: Museums pay homage with free admission, events on MLK Day
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Playing with dinosaurs at CMNH
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Michele Rudolph,, Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers.
Vince Robinson
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. CMA.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Family fun at the Cleveland Museum of Art on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Working on art projects with friends at Cleveland Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Beaker the Barred Owl at CMNH's Perkins Wildlife Center Wildlife Ambassador.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
George Clooney the Red Fox and Remi the Racoon, CMNH Wildlife Ambassadors.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
"Winter Skies" will be shown regularly in CMNH's Shafran Planetarium on MLK Day
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Watching "T.Rex" at CMNH.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
"T.Rex" 3D Movie at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
There will be plenty of hands-on activities at the Art Museum on MLK Day
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Activities with friends at the Cleveland Museum of Art on MLK Day.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art
Enjoying the exhibits at CMNH.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Enjoying the exhibits at CMNH.
Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
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On Monday, January 19, two of Cleveland’s cultural institutions will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day by offering free admission with programs and activities that honor Dr. King’s life, ideals, and legacy through science, art, performance, storytelling, and hands-on activities.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) and the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), with CMA’s Community Arts Center/Centro de Artes Comunitarias (CAC) in Tremont, are hosting daylong events designed to celebrate and reflect by combining reflection on history with creative engagement and visions for the future.
Michele Rudolph,, Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers.Community meets science and discovery
CMNH invites families and individuals to explore programs that connect Dr. King’s vision of community and shared purpose with science and discovery, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highlights
- Whether they star in movies, appear in games and toys, or play a role in our imaginations, dinosaurs command our attention—especially the “tyrant lizard king,” the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
- Earth Hands Project at Smead Discovery Center is an all-day art activity where visitors trace their hands and contribute to a communal “world wreath”—symbolizing a collective contribution to a unified future.
- The Science of Skin Color in the Learning Lab features interactive learning from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. centered around how environmental factors influence human diversity.
- Winter Skies Shows in Shafran Planetarium will have sessions throughout the afternoon, exploring winter constellations and sparks curiosity with the cosmos.
- Wildlife Talks & Animal Encounters will feature sessions throughout the day that showcase Ohio’s rescued wildlife ambassadors and introduce visitors to animal care, enrichment, and conservation.
Art, Legacy, and Community Storytelling at CMA and the CAC
CMA’s free daylong celebration is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Ames Family Atrium with workshops, conversations, and activities that focus on reflection and preserving history and legacies through art, performance, and community voices.
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.Highlights
- Art-making workshops: Family art activities inspired by Dr. King’s legacy include printmaking with community studio Zygote Press, as well as journal creation supported by Akron Children’s.
- Guided tours and gallery conversations: CMA’s “Voices on View” tours highlight how art conveys themes of justice, resilience, and mutual understanding.
- Live performances & storytelling: Musical performances by Cleveland Classical Guitar Society, dance by the 10K Movement, poetry readings by Cleveland Heights/University Heights Poet Laureate Michelle R. Smith, and family story times invite reflection through creative expression.
- Special exhibition access: Since admission to the museum is free in honor of the holiday, visitors have the opportunity to explore fashion as a medium in the popular exhibit Renaissance to Runway for free. Admission will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.
CAC Programs
- Families are invited to a storytelling session led by Michele Rudolph of Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event draws on rich cultural narratives connected to Dr. King’s legacy.
- Drop in for art making & community engagement activities throughout the day, including visual art experiences and workshops designed to make creative expression accessible and community centered.
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cleveland Museum Natural History.Live performances & local artist collaborations: CAC visitors can engage with local artists and partners through performances and collaborative art projects that celebrate cultural heritage and collective creativity.
In addition to CMNH and CMA, several additional institutions in University Circle and beyond are offering free admission, programming, and activities on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cozad-Bates House, Severance Music Center, The Music Settlement, and the Cleveland History Center.
University Circle Inc.’s free CircleLink shuttle, runs every 20 to 30 minutes between these locations and others Wade Oval, Uptown, Little Italy, CWRU, University Hospitals, and Coventry, including CAC—making it easy to experience all free MLK programs in University Circle a beyond.
Karin Connelly Rice