Night (and Day) at the Museum

In "Night at the Museum," Ben Stiller races from a suddenly animated T.Rex skeleton. On Saturday, thanks to <i>Smithsonian</i> magazine's Museum Day, over 1,200 museums nationwide will open their doors for free. Why not run down to your local institution? Here are six participating facilities, and the current exhibits. (Fox)

Philadelphia's Franklin Institute is an interactive science experience designed to stimulate learning and inspire creativity. (The Franklin Institute: Philadelphia)

The Joel N. Bloom Observatory at The Franklin Institute features a giant 10" Zeiss Refractor telescope and four 8” Meade Reflectors. (The Franklin Institute: Philadelphia)

The Giant Heart, a walk-through model of what keeps your blood pumping, has been a must-see at The Franklin Institute since its creation in 1954.  (The Franklin Institute: Philadelphia)

An aerial outdoor image of the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, CA. The museum features interactive exhibits including "Beyond Blastoff: Surviving in Space," where visitors are immersed in the everyday life of astronauts. Genuine space artifacts include a Mir Space Station toilet and Soyuz Descent module. Other hands-on exhibits reveal the wonders of the cosmos through exploration. (The Chabot Space and Science Center)

Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is currently featuring "From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen." The museum calls it the first artifact-driven exhibit on Springsteen’s legendary career. You'll also see the Fender Esquire from the cover of "Born to Run," rare audio and video footage, the outfit he wore on the cover of "Born in the U.S.A," and more.  (The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

New York's Intrepid Museum features this Army Bell 47 D/ H-13 Sioux. The current exhibit is "Summer Salute to Heroes," four months of exciting events geared toward honoring our past and present heroes, while inspiring those of the future. (The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum)

A Navy Grumman/Eastern Aircraft TBM-3E Avenger at the Intrepid. The current exhibit is "Summer Salute to Heroes," four months of exciting events geared toward honoring our past and present heroes, while inspiring those of the future. (The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum)

The High Museum of Art’s new Wieland Pavilion featuring Niagara Knife by Gene Davis (left) and Marilyn by Andy Warhol (right). Renzo Piano’s vela light scoops filter in natural light. Recently, Atlanta's High Museum expanded, doubling its size, and launched Louvre Atlanta, a partnership with the Louvre Museum in Paris. (High Museum of Art)

The swooping curves of the facade of the J. Paul Getty Center in Los Angeles. The museum is currently featuring an exhibit on the tiny characters, creatures and fantastic plants illustrated in  the margins of medieval manuscripts, collectively called "marginalia." You'll also find "In Focus: Making a Scene," a collection of photographs inspired by art history, literature and religion.  (The J. Paul Getty Trust)

(The J. Paul Getty Trust)