The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History offers free admission to parents of OU students during Parents' Weekend.

Parents’ weekend fails to attract museum visitors

While a visit to the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is always free for OU students with a valid student ID, adults usually have to pay an admission fee of $5. During Parents’ Weekend 2010, sponsored by the Campus Activities Council, admission was free for parents who were accompanied by an OU student. Few students took advantage of the opportunity to explore the museum with their families.

Carl Wood, an information desk specialist with the museum, said attendance was down compared to last year.

“I thought it’d be busier since it’s Parents’ Weekend and we usually get a runoff of people from the Medieval Fair. I haven’t seen anyone today, other than students who are working on assignments,” he said.



An exhibit in the McCasland Foundation Hall of the People of Oklahoma sits empty during Parents' Weekend at OU.

Wood doesn’t believe the Medieval Fair had a negative impact on the museum. In fact, he believes that the fair usually increases attendance, but the rainy weather on Saturday may have kept potential museum visitors from attending the fair.

“Saturdays are usually our busiest day, especially during the Medieval Fair. I’m used to seeing people who stop by after the fair, still in their costumes. In years past, we’d get a lot of visitors, especially if the weather is hot. People come in because it’s free and air-conditioned,” museum security guard Ross McClish said.


Communications senior Rachel Olson said she would have taken her parents to visit the museum if she knew about the free admission.

“My parents love seeing all of the different things we have on campus and if we could have seen them for free, that’s even better. I didn’t even realize that it was Parents’ Weekend until I saw it on the OU website today. That’s why I didn’t go so I wonder how many other people just didn’t know about it,” she said.

Despite the lack of visitors this weekend, Wood said the museum will continue to offer free admission during Parents’ Weekend.