Seniors

Museum Mondays for Seniors

Through Museum Mondays for Seniors, individuals age 55 and older can purchase discounted tickets for $17. Tickets include admission to the museum and Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden. On select Mondays tickets also include unique, educational presentations in the museum’s Paychex Theater. See schedule below.

2026 Presentation Schedule

11 a.m., Paychex Theater

Monday, July 27: Life in Plastic: Barbie’s Innovation and Icon Status
When Barbie debuted in 1959, she was greeted by apprehensive and critical parents. But that did not stop Mattel from shifting the landscape of play and design. Over the following decades, Barbie went on to earn icon status. This presentation traces Barbie’s innovation through the museum’s collection of more than 3,000 Barbie-related artifacts.

Michelle Parnett-Dwyer, Curator

Monday, August 24: Marvelous Monarchs
Monarch butterflies are one of the most widely known butterfly species. Let’s discuss what sets these nature icons apart from other local species, how they manage to migrate 3,000 miles, and how to support monarchs locally.

Erin Regan, Live Collections Specialist

Monday, September 28: Playful Competition: A Perspective Through Photographs
This presentation explores competition as play, outside of sports, examining niche groups through photographs. Discover the playfulness and competition of state and county fair competitions, beauty contests, and much more.

Evyn Morgan, Museum Photographer/Collections Specialist, Photography

Monday, October 26: From TV Animation to Toy Shelves: One Artist’s Journey
Join Dennis J. Woodyard to hear him share experiences from his TV animation career, which include shows like Galaxy Rangers, Rankin/Bass Thundercats, Disney TV’s Gargoyles, and Warner Bros. Ozzy & Drix. Learn more about some of Dennis’s character designs and see the toys many of them eventually became!

Dennis J. Woodyard is a Journeyman Artist, and a former Emmy nominated TV animation producer/director/story board artist and writer with a wide range of experience in the animation field.

Monday, November 23: Tech-Powered Board Games
This presentation traces the history of board games that incorporate technology, from 20th-century magnets and projectors to modern-day smartphones. Although some may consider these technological inclusions to be gimmicks, they can enhance gameplay and infuse games with a sense of wonder.

Mirek Stolee, Curator

Monday, December 14: Inside a Butterfly’s Life
Learn how butterflies are related to other animals, what the dust on a butterfly wing is, why they are so colorful, what the butterfly life cycle is, and much more!

Anna Simpson, Live Collections Manager