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 Natural Awakenings Lancaster-Berks

Contemplate What It Means to Be Human at the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit

Aug 01, 2015 12:14AM ● By Michelle Bense

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s traveling exhibit, Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean To Be Human? is on display at the Ephrata Public Library now through August 25. The free, traveling display highlights key milestones in the journey of humans, including symbolic language development, and is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday.

According to the Smithsonian, Exploring Human Origins features a 1,200-square-foot display with panels, interactive kiosks, engaging media presentations, 3D skull casts and more. On its nationwide tour, the exhibit visits a total of 19 public libraries in the U.S., with this being its only stop in Pennsylvania.

As a special offer, exhibit visitors can learn more about their own personal ancestry by purchasing a DNA kit—through the largest DNA ancestry service in the world—from Tree of Life Health Ministries, the primary local sponsor of the exhibit. With each kit purchased, Tree of Life is offering a free bonus report that shows the individual’s genetic variations and a personal nutrition analysis. Individuals also have the opportunity for a consultation with one of Tree of Life’s leading experts in genetic variants to learn how to bridge the gaps in their DNA to positively support their health.

Tree of Life Health Ministries offers naturopathic and natural health consulting. Naturopaths are not licensed medical doctors, and therefore do not diagnose or treat disease. Rather, they support the body nutritionally, so that the body comes into balance on its own.

The exhibit was organized by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. This project was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation and support from the Peter Buck Human Origins Fund.

The exhibit is located at 550 S. Reading Rd., in Ephrata. Tree of Life Health Ministries is located at 15 Pleasure Rd., in Ephrata. For more information, call 717-733-2003 or visit TOLHealth.com or EphrataPublicLibrary.org.

Michelle Bense is a freelance editor and writer for Natural Awakenings magazines. Connect with her at [email protected].