(Press release)

WACO, Tex. —The Mayborn Museum Complex at Baylor University will offer free admission on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, as part of the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine.

Smithsonian's Museum Day is a celebration of culture and learning and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, D.C.-based properties. Doors will be open free to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors at museums and cultural institutions nationwide.

Last year, more than 200,000 people attended Museum Day, with all 50 states plus Puerto Rico represented by more than 900 participating museums. This year, the magazine expects more than 1,000 museums to take part.

Visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday to download a free Museum Day Admission Card. Attendees must present this card to gain free entry to participating institutions. Each card provides museum access for two people, and one card is permitted per household. Listings and links to participating museums also may be found on the website.

Founded in 1970 with the launch of Smithsonian magazine, Smithsonian Media allows the intellectually curious to indulge and engage their passions for history, the arts, science, the natural world, culture and travel. This multimedia network is also affiliated with the world's most visited museum and research complexes at the Smithsonian Institution. “We are pleased to participate with other museums throughout the country for this exciting event that highlights the value museums bring to their communities,” said Dr. Ellie Caston, Mayborn Museum Director.

The Mayborn Museum Complex includes natural history galleries that focus on Waco at the Crossroads of Texas and include both indoor and outdoor exhibits, 17 themed discovery rooms for hands-on learning and family fun, a theater, a traveling exhibit hall and a museum store.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays; and 1-5 pm on Sundays.