Explorit Science Center in Davis will join 25 museums in the region in offering free admission Feb. 7 as part of the 11th Annual Sacramento Museum Day. Hours at all museums are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last guests admitted at 4 p.m.

The event is presented by the Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) and supported by Umpqua Bank.

Some museums, including Explorit, will offer special programming in addition to regular exhibitions. Explorit will host visitors at both of its sites in Davis: the main site, 2801 Second St., and the Mace Park Branch, 3141 Fifth St. The branch is not regularly open to the public, but on Museum Day will host visitors interested in meeting its resident animals, including a blue-tongued skink, a boa constrictor and two species of cockroaches.

Museum Day coordinators suggest that guests plan to see no more than two or three museums this day, to allow adequate time to enjoy the experience and to travel between sites.

“Consider visiting museums that you’ve never been to  – or perhaps have never even heard of,” says Delta Pick Mello, coordinator. “That’s what this event is all about: discovering the many different museums that are right here in our own backyard!”

Free shuttle buses will operate throughout the day with stopping points adjacent to most – but not all – museums. The California Museum, at 10th and O streets in Sacramento, serves as the central transfer point for the day’s five shuttle routes. Volunteer tour guides will be on-board to assist riders and narrate the route, courtesy of the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and California State University, Sacramento. Riders with special needs will be accommodated courtesy of Cerebral Palsy Transport.

Detailed information about participating museums, suggested parking, public transit options and free event shuttle routes is available at www.sacmuseums.org (click on “Museum Day”) or by calling the visitors bureau at (916) 808-7777.

Nearly 55,000 people enjoyed the region’s museums during Sacramento Museum Day 2008; since the event’s inception, well over a half-million people have enjoyed the event.

Sacramento Museum Day 2009 is supported by Umpqua Bank. Media sponsors include KVIE Public Television, Capital Public Radio, Outword magazine, and News10’s Sacramento & Co.

Participating museums in Museum Day 2009: Aerospace Museum of California; California Foundry History Museum; California State Military Museum; California State Capitol Museum; The California Museum; California State Indian Museum; California State Railroad Museum; Crocker Art Museum; Discovery Museum Science and Space Center; Don and June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum; Explorit Science Center (Davis); Fairytale Town; Folsom History Museum; and the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park.

Also Heidrick Ag History Center (Woodland); Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park; Museum of Medical History; Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum; Old Sacramento State Historic Park; Sacramento Zoo; Sacramento Historic City Cemetery; Sacramento History Museum (formerly Discovery Museum History Center); Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum; Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park; Towe Auto Museum; and Wells Fargo History Museum (Old Sacramento location only).

Note that the Crocker Art Museum is under construction for its major expansion. Parking and gallery access will be limited, and shuttle service will not be offered to the Crocker this year.

“Explorit is excited to be a part of SAM and this big day,” said Megan Contreras, program director. “Each year we have had record-breaking attendance, and we hope to see many new faces at this year’s event.

“If you can’t come by on Feb. 7, come check out our new exhibition, “Energy Story,” opening Feb. 21.”

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On Feb. 3, learn about the growing, floating Great Pacific Garbage Patch during a free lecture by Eben Schwartz of the California Coastal Commission.

He’ll present “Your Neighborhood’s Secret Dump: The Pacific’s Floating Garbage Patches” at 7:30 p.m. at Explorit’s neighbor, the Davis Musical Theatre Company, 607 Peña.

This event is the second of three installments in Explorit’s 18th annual Cutting Edge Lecture Series. The final lecture, “CSI Tanzania: Forensic Biology Comes of Age in Africa,” will be delivered 7:30 p.m. April 1  by Ruth Ballard, biology professor at California State University, Sacramento, and a DNA/Biology Advisor for the Forensic Science Graduate Program at UC Davis. Like the February lecture, it will take place at the Davis Musical Theatre Company.

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Explorit Science Center has two exhibitions running: “Body Blueprints” and “Move It! Science in Action.” Admission is $4 general, free for age 3 and under. The museum is open from 2-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Explorit is at 2801 Second St., Davis. For more information: (530) 756-0191 or www.explorit.org