The San Bernardino County Museum hosts the popular annual Public Works Day on Saturday, June 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day features a wide variety of hands-on activities related to engineering and science, in partnership with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Works.
Started by the American Public Works Association in 1960, National Public Works Week is a celebration of the tens of thousands of men and women in North America who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as public works.
“’The theme for the 2018 National Public Works Week, ‘The Power of Public Works,’ gives voice to the impact the many facets of public works have on modern civilization,” said Kevin Blakeslee, director of County Public Works. “From providing clean water to disposing of solid waste, to building roads and bridges and removing snow on roadways, to the construction of dams, channels and levees to control flooding, or devising emergency management strategies to meet natural or manmade disasters, public works services play a significant role in a society’s quality of life. The Department of Public Works expresses its sincere thanks to the County Museum for hosting this event that will provide some fun, hands-on education to our residents as to how the Department of Public Works serves them.”
“Our Public Works Day continues to be a popular event,” said Museum Director Melissa Russo. “The big trucks and equipment are an obvious draw, and it’s a great opportunity for the public to learn what these regional projects involve, and how quality of life in our county is dependent on the thoughtfulness and quality of these infrastructure developments.”
Activities and demonstrations at the museum are especially designed to engage children and families with hands-on learning: create a glider, conduct experiments, explore with a storm drain robot, find yourself with the County Surveyor, learn to keep storm drains clean with Environmental Management, and recycle with Solid Waste Management, have your photo taken in a giant snow blower.
Hands-on learning activities related to science and technology and the County Museum’s other exciting events and exhibits reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.
The San Bernardino County Museum is at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child aged 5 to 12). EBT cardholders are admitted for $1. Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. All activities are included with museum admission. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.