The Freedom Plane National Tour is making its way across the United States and has landed in Houston, Texas. These 9 historic documents that helped forge our nation as we know it will be on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science until May 25, 2026. We had the opportunity to have a delightful conversation about these documents with Freedom Plane National Tour curator, Maureen MacDonald. Enjoy!

•  Articles of Association, 1774 - George Washington’s, Alexander Hamilton’s, and Aaron Burr’s   Oaths of Allegiance, 1778
•  Declaration of Independence, 1823 (Original Stone Engraving)
• Treaty of Paris, 1783 - David Brearley’s Secret Printing of the Constitution, 1787
• Voting Record of the Constitutional Convention, showing the final vote on the Constitution, 1787
• The Bill of Rights - Senate Revisions to the House-passed Amendments to the Constitution, 1789 
• More info on documents https://www.hmns.org/exhibits/freedom-plane/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21342191935&gbraid=0AAAAAoQUJ1h1CYThs3v8cxtzGG3UTzSXR&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiJvQBhCYARIsAMjts3LeE3BuDJKZlhFQN866K1udNtMzW1KmMJaZvYUJbSFXaW-HAOhnFaYaAj6JEALw_wcB

The Freedom Plane National Tour is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation, through the generous support of The Boeing Company, Comcast Corporation, Microsoft, and P&G.

Additional support is provided by FedEx. 

Local support is provided by  

Lead Underwriter Sarofim Foundation  

Major Corporate Underwriter Coca-Cola

Additional support is provided by the Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation, David DeVido, Marli Andrade and Alfred C. Glassell, III, Ann and John Bookout, the Gordon A. Cain Foundation, Anne and Albert Chao, Carolyn and Platt Davis, Lois Davis, The Duncan Fund, Cherie and Jim Flores, The Frost/Lopez Family, Susie and Mel Glasscock, Annie and Bob Graham, Cynthia and Ben Guill, Tracy and Randy Hale, the Holthouse Foundation for Kids, the Kinder Foundation, Colleen and John Kotts, Phuong and George Levan, Bobbie Nau, John L. Nau, III, Karen and Dean Patrinely, Nancy and David Pustka, Beth Robertson and Steve Pearce, Eliza and Stuart W. Stedman, Meg and Dick Weekley, Hilda and Greg Curran, Kelly and Bill Montgomery, Sara Dodd-Denton and Will Denton, Mary and John Eads, Jenny Elkins, Martha and Richard Finger,Kathy and Marty Goossen, Kay and Ned Holmes, Anne Lamkin Kinder, Susan and David Lazarus, Shelli and Steve Lindley, Joella and Steve Mach, Lisa and Will Mathis, Diane and David Modesett, Shanell and Walker Moody, Rob Mosbacher, Susanne and William E. Pritchard III, Barbara Radnofsky and Ed Supkis, Jennifer M. Segal, Carolyn and Garry Tanner, Ann G. Trammell, Randa and K. C. Weiner, Stacy and John Wilkirson, Cyvia Wolff, Woodforest National Bank, and Carolyn and John H. Young.


*Info correction, At 9:20, it is the 2nd printing, not the first.

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

My wonderful guest today is the spellbinding actor of stage and screen, Nathaniel Hackmann.

Nathaniel plays the iconic character "Biff" in the award-winning Broadway smash-hit "Back to the Future: The Musical", now showing from March 31st through April 5th, 2026 by Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) at the Hobby Center!

In this episode, Nathaniel and I talk about what it's like "becoming" Biff and the extraordinary experiences and lengths he's gone to to become a part of the iconic...and dare I say sacred Back to the Future universe.

TUTS, "Back to the Future: The Musical" more info and tix! https://www.tuts.org/back-to-the-future-the-musical-2026/

Theatre Under the Stars https://www.tuts.org/

Nathaniel Hackmann
https://www.instagram.com/n8hackmann/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9823221/
https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/nathaniel-hackmann/profile/

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

My sweet mother is a funeral director and world-renowned restorative artist. In this episode, I walk her around our "Death by Natural Causes" exhibit to discuss how she might prepare a few of the victims for an open-casket...or if it is even possible...audience discretion is advised if you're a little squeamish about this subject matter.

https://www.hmns.org/

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

Is their any truth to the idea that fossils can be radioactive? Colin Diggins is a paleontologist and our paleontology laboratory manager here at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Enjoy the fascinating conversation!

Show Notes:

Manganese in the spring water was correct.


https://www.hmns.org/
#paleontology #science #podcast #museum #houston #fossils #dinosaur #dinosaurs #radioactive

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

Scientists can be found everywhere in the museum. Alex Ruff may seem like a mild-mannered Building Manger here at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, but he is actually an expert in minerals and geology...with the credentials to boot. Enjoy this deeply fascinating conversation about our exquisite minerals, geology in general, and even a bit more about our illustrious Alma Queen! I guess you could say this conversation...rocks.

Show notes:

Yes, Manganese Carbonate is the mineral of which Rhodochrosite is made and its purity dictates how "red" it appears.

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

They march once more, this time to Houston 📍

Explore World of the Terracotta Warriors, opening November 14.

See ancient China’s unification under Qin Shi Huang brought to life through rare artifacts and stunning craftsmanship.

World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century is jointly organized by the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center, and Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum of the People's Republic of China, and Bowers Museum in the United States.

Local support is provided by Regent Seven Seas Cruises®.

#TerracottaWarriors #HMNS #HistoryUnearthed #WarriorsAtHMNS

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For centuries, China’s Terracotta Warriors have stirred the soul and ignited the imagination. Here at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, we are thrilled, privileged, and honored to host these marvels within our own walls for all to witness. https://www.hmns.org/

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

Even if you do not drink it, the science and history behind bourbon is infused with notes of wonder, curiosity, and fascination. Bourbon expert Randy Bruner helps us to get acquainted with its enchanting history, as well as tips for those interested in developing their own taste for this historical spirit.

More info and upcoming tasting events: https://sugarland.hmns.org/

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

Have you ever noticed asteroid names and wondered how they came to be? Let's go to the HMNS George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park and talk to astronomer Tracy Knauss to learn all about it...and much more!

George Observatory
https://george.hmns.org/

More about our 36 inch scope
https://youtu.be/hz2-GgX9omg?si=Y5-Xbp6qORNLA8Tk

George VLOG
https://youtu.be/e9pXhaA0q8A?si=elZTB-o9GgLIQBM1

Tracy's Asteroid
https://fbac.org/2025/08/21/tracy-knauss-asteroid/

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
0:54 Tracy's Asteroid
4:09 What do the label numbers mean?
8:05 Who can find asteroids? 
13:47 More about Tracy's asteroid 
18:58 Has the George Observatory found asteroids?
20:34 Addressing light pollution
25:29 Venus is cool
27:28 Do you need expensive equipment for viewing/astrophotography?
35:14 Sometimes you don't need anything at all
36:57 History of 36-inch scope & George Observatory
41:23 Importance of optics
44:50 More 36-inch scope facts

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

There's a lot of hype around the "de-extinction" of the Dire Wolf that has been extinct for thousands of years. So, have we really brought extinct animals back to life? What is really going on?

Email: [email protected]

Colossals's website: https://colossal.com/

Kat Havens joins the podcast in our beautiful Hall of Ancient Egypt to discuss the, well, gutwrenching process of mummification!

Website: https://www.hmns.org/

eMail: [email protected]

The smell of a mummy: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mummies-from-ancient-egypt-smell-surprisingly-nice-scientists-say/

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/