Show-Me State Times

The Saint Louis Science Center is offering a series of activities to mark the anniversary of the eruption that buried Pompeii nearly 2,000 years ago. From August 21 to 24, the center will host Eruption Week as part of POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION, providing visitors with opportunities to learn about life in the ancient Roman city and its preservation after the disaster.

On Thursday, August 21, guests can explore the role of entertainment in Pompeiian society by learning about theater masks and making their own Roman-style versions. The following day focuses on ecology; visitors will compare plants common to Pompeii with those native to Missouri and sample ingredients used in beer with Schlafly brewing.

Saturday’s events highlight engineering achievements in Pompeii, such as its plumbing system. Attendees can participate in an activity mapping out how water was supplied throughout the city.

Sunday, August 24—Eruption Day—will feature demonstrations and shows at the Science Center’s Energy Stage explaining volcanic eruptions. Other activities include exploring ancient graffiti, creating mosaics, building amphitheaters from Keva blocks, and examining how Vesuvius’ eruption influenced Italian agriculture.

POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION runs until September 15 at the Science Center. It includes more than 150 artifacts excavated from around Mount Vesuvius—some touring the United States for the first time—such as mosaics, frescoes, jewelry, medical instruments, household items, and body casts of victims preserved by ash. Visitors can also view a holographic gladiatorial combat display and experience a multimedia simulation recreating Mount Vesuvius’ eruption.

Admission to the Science Center is free Thursdays through Mondays; however, tickets are required for timed entry into POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION. Prices start at $15 for members and are available at slsc.org/pompeii or via the box office.

“The mission of the Saint Louis Science Center is to inspire everyone to be curious and engaged in science,” according to information provided by the organization. The Science Center is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate since 2016 and offers hands-on exhibits along with its OMNIMAX Theater and James S. McDonnell Planetarium.

World Heritage Exhibitions (WHE), which produced this exhibition alongside NEON—a company known for immersive experiences such as “Jurassic World: The Experience” and “Harry Potter: Visions of Magic”—brings decades of expertise in artifact-based exhibitions worldwide.