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Wilbur D. May Center

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The Wilbur D. May Center is an attraction located in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park at 1595 North Sierra, Reno, Nevada. The facility is comprised of the Wilbur D. May Museum, the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden and the Great Basin Adventure.

Wilbur D. May Museum

The museum features the antiques and collectibles purchased by Wilbur D. May, a local adventurer, rancher, pilot, philanthropist and world traveler. Born in 1898, Wilbur May was the third son of David May, founder of The May Department Stores Company. The museum's collections derive from his over 40 trips around the world, and include T´ang Dynasty pottery, primitive African artwork, Inuit scrimshaws, Egyptian scarab figures, Greek icons, wildlife dioramas and a shrunken head from South America. Also featured is a recreation of the living room, tack room and big game trophy room from Wilbur's 2600-acre Double Diamond Ranch.

The museum also displays changing exhibits about various subjects. The "Predators" exhibit will run from March through May 2009, and will feature live animals and hands-on natural history displays about ancient and modern predators.[1] There is an admission fee for the museum, which is operated by the Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space.

Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden (12 acres) is an arboretum and botanical garden that is open to the public without charge from sunrise to sunset. The site is located at an elevation of 4,600 feet (1,400 m) in a transitional zone between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin Desert. It receives an average annual precipitation of 7 inches (180 mm), daily temperature varies 50 °F (10 °C) or more, and the growing season is less than 100 days.

The garden's primary purpose is to demonstrate gardening in the high desert environment. It includes the following areas:

  • Burke Garden - modeled upon an English country garden, with elm trees and perennials in bloom from early May through September, including iris, bleeding heart, delphinium, foxglove, lupine, and campanula.
  • Dixie's Plaza Garden - contains perennials and annuals.
  • Honey's Garden - contains yellow and white flowering shrubs and roses, with waterfall and pools.
  • Songbird Garden - contains aromatic flowers, seeds, and fruits, attracting many native birds.
  • Evans Creek flows through the middle of the site. It originates from snowmelt and springs on Peavine Mountain, and flows onward to the Truckee River and then to Pyramid Lake.

Great Basin Adventure

Great Basin Adventure is a seasonal children's attraction that includes a natural science discovery room, a mine activity area, a small farm with animals to pet, pony rides, a log flume ride and dinosaur statues to climb on. Some activities require an additional fee. The park also hosts special family movies and events.

References

  1. ^ May Museum: Current Exhibit

See also

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