Wilbur D. May Center facts for kids

The Wilbur D. May Center is a fantastic place to visit in Reno, Nevada. It's located inside the beautiful Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. This center has two main parts: the Wilbur D. May Museum and the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden. It used to have a children's park called Great Basin Adventure, which was a lot of fun for kids.

Discover the Wilbur D. May Museum

The Wilbur D. May Museum is filled with amazing old items and collections. These treasures belonged to a very interesting man named Wilbur D. May. Wilbur May was born in 1898. He was the son of David May, who started a big store called The May Department Stores Company.

Who Was Wilbur D. May?

Wilbur May was a true adventurer! He was a rancher, a pilot, an artist, and someone who loved to help others. He also traveled all around the world. Wilbur lived in Reno from 1936 until he passed away in 1982. His many trips, over 40 of them, helped him gather the incredible items you see in the museum today.

What Can You See at the Museum?

The museum's collection is like a trip around the world itself! You can see ancient Tang dynasty pottery from China. There are also African masks, statues, and artwork. Look for Inuit scrimshaws, which are carvings on bone or ivory. You might also spot Egyptian scarab figures and Greek icons. The museum even has cool wildlife dioramas. One unique item is a shrunken head from South America.

The museum also shows parts of Wilbur's life at his Double Diamond Ranch. You can see recreations of his living room, bedroom, and even his tack room. There's also a big game trophy room, showing animals he encountered on his travels.

Special Exhibits and Art

Besides the permanent collection, the museum often hosts special traveling exhibits. These shows cover all sorts of interesting topics. Past exhibits have explored "Predators," "Sherlock Holmes," and "Toytopia." The museum also has an art gallery. It features new shows from local and regional artists throughout the year. Don't forget to check out the museum store! It has many unique items from different countries. There is a small fee to enter the museum. It is managed by Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space.

Explore the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a beautiful outdoor space. It covers about 13 acres and is open to everyone all year long. You can visit from sunrise to sunset, and there's no charge to enter!

Gardening in the High Desert

This garden is special because it's located at a high elevation, about 4,600 feet up. It sits between the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Great Basin Desert. This area gets very little rain, only about 7 inches a year. Temperatures can change a lot in one day, sometimes by 50 degrees Fahrenheit or more! The growing season for plants is also short, less than 100 days.

The main goal of the Arboretum is to show how to grow plants in this challenging high desert environment. It's a member of the American Public Garden Association. The garden is cared for by two full-time plant experts and a group of volunteers called the May Arboretum Society.

Different Garden Areas to Enjoy

The Arboretum has several unique garden areas:

• Burke Garden - This garden looks like a classic English country garden. It has elm trees and many colorful flowers. You can see beautiful iris, bleeding heart, delphinium, foxglove, lupine, and campanula blooming from May through September.
• Dixie's Plaza Garden - This area features a mix of plants that bloom year after year and those that bloom for just one season.
• Honey's Garden - Here, you'll find shrubs and roses with yellow and white flowers. It also has a lovely waterfall and peaceful pools.
• Songbird Garden - This garden is designed to attract many native birds. It has fragrant flowers, seeds, and fruits that birds love to eat.

Evans Creek

A small stream called Evans Creek flows right through the middle of the Arboretum. This creek gets its water from melting snow and springs on Peavine Mountain. It then flows into the Truckee River and eventually reaches Pyramid Lake.

See also

In Spanish: Wilbur D. May Center para niños