A Day in Iowa City and the Museum of Natural History

Yesterday, I had to go to the University of Iowa to get some pre-semester paperwork turned in. Plus, I had to pick up a graded paper from last semester, as well as return about two and a half tons of a dozen or so library books to the University's Main Library.

And, of course, I had to get "The Summer Shot, 2012," just outside the library's north entrance!

Since Livie was with me, I had to add in some fun things to do along with my quick (but boring) errands. So, after quickly turning in some paperwork at the Veterans' Center within the Registrar's Office in Jessup Hall - which took just a couple minutes, and then picking up my graded paper across the street in Gilmore Hall, we headed to lunch at the Bluebird Diner. (It was about noon, so great timing! Plus, we got there just before the lunch rush!!)

We've just ordered; waiting for lunch!

I think the Bluebird Diner is Livie's favorite diner. On days she has to come with me to Iowa City, we usually have to eat there.

This time, she had some chicken strips and a cup of delicious fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, honeydew melon, and pineapple). I had the BLT on wheat toast with applewood-smoked bacon and herb aioli. Delish!

Then we shared a piece of warmed cherry pie a la mode. The ice cream was so creamy, I think I liked that part best.

After we ate, and before heading to the "boring" library (which Liv thinks is a little scary up in the stacks, because it's such a huge place, it feels like you could get lost), we stopped at someplace fun.

Where did we go? The University of Iowa's Museum of Natural History, of course! I'd never been there, if you can believe that, even though I've gone past it many times.

This is located in MacBride Hall, where my anthropology class' discussion group met.

Anyway, here's an abbreviated photo tour of our adventure through the museum. I got a ton of photos, but I won't bore you with all of them.

 Outside MacBride Hall, ready to go into the museum.

Liv was absolutely fascinated with this prehistoric sea creature! We had to go back and look at this thing a couple times before we left this part of the museum. 

 She was also fascinated by this diorama replicating an area in Iowa, including Native Americans overlooking a river.

 She was also interested in seeing a common form of housing Native Americans used. In this photo, though, she was telling me how the floor was textured to make it look like the ground.

 She really liked this giant sloth; we had to look at this exhibit a few times, too. I'm not sure why she's not smiling for the photo, though.

Here's another one of her favorites: a "birds-eye view" diorama of a Native American village in Iowa. If you click on the photo, you'll be able to see the village is at an angle, like you're a bird looking down at it. Liv's pointing at a flock (a gaggle?) of geese flying over the landscape. 

Guess who's impressed with the stuffed polar bear?! 

This one was my favorite diorama: the Sonoran Desert, replicating an area where I used to live - Tucson, AZ! 

We both liked this one - the moose skeleton! Pretty amazing!

Of course, there's also a moose diorama. This is about as close to any moose we'll get in person. They're too huge to get any closer in person!

Another cool diorama that I had to include in this photo tour: the muskox/wolf one! 

I convinced Livie to take a seat in the MacBride Hall auditorium's balcony. She was a little nervous about it, I guess because it's a pretty big place.

And that's the end of the photo tour. Maybe another day, I'll share some more photos of the University of Iowa's Museum of Natural History.


But before signing off for now, Livie wanted me to share this photo of her next to the flowers at the Main Library's south entrance. She loved the bright pink of these "overflowing" flowers!