The Virginia Living Museum will reopen its planetarium for two Saturdays in February to present special showings of  “Follow the Drinking Gourd: A Quest for Freedom.”

This show is the poignant story of one African-American family’s trek north to freedom and how they used constellations to guide the way.

Today when we look at the night sky, we can calmly enjoy the twinkling of hundreds of stars. In the mid-19th century, slaves looked to the sky with hope, searching for the North Star or Drinking Gourd that would lead them to freedom.

Created in 1995 by the New Jersey State Museum and Planetarium and the Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium, the program is based on a children’s book, “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter.

The program at the Living Museum contains Winter’s original artwork and music by Lovey Williams.

The museum’s planetarium staff has expanded the original program, adding pre-Civil War images of the Chesapeake Bay area, plus information about the winter sky and its important role in telling time and the changing of the seasons.

The result is a reminder of the value of being able to guide one’s own destiny and a timeless experience that can be enjoyed by all ages.

“Follow the Drinking Gourd” will be shown at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 and 24. It is appropriate for all ages.

Admission to the planetarium is $3. Combination tickets to the museum are $15 adults and $12 children (ages 3-12). Children ages 2 and under are free.

The Virginia Living Museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News (I-64 exit 258-A).

Winter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

At the Virginia Living Museum, visitors explore Virginia’s natural heritage from the mountains to the sea through living exhibits. There are hands-on discovery centers, an observatory and a 3/4-mile elevated boardwalk with animals in naturalized habitats and native plant gardens.

Call 757-595-1900 for more information or visit the web site at www.thevlm.org.

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