Join us this first Friday for a special treat! To pair with our new exhibition, Lunchtime: The History of Science on the School Food Tray, we will be exploring the surprising history of school lunch. How do we decide what goes on the menu and how do we get it there? Have you ever thought about the history behind your favorite lunch box or trusty thermos?

Interact with our handling collections to learn about how we keep food safe and accessible to children, locally and internationally. Try your hand at making the best sandwich in our school lunch-themed card games while enjoying some snacks you may have wished you had on your lunch tray. Our library will be showcasing some of our rare books paired with a fun craft using images from our digital collections! 

About First Fridays

Spark your curiosity while exploring the exhibits after hours! First Fridays bring together a myriad of activities covering everyday science, historical oddities, and everything in between. Grab your friends, and kick off an evening of discovery, surprise, and a little nerdy fun.

First Fridays at the Institute are always free and open to the public. Attendees will receive a 10% discount to National Mechanics restaurant.


Featured image: Detail of “Every Child Needs a Good School Lunch” poster, Works Progress Administration Oklahoma Art Project, 1944. Courtesy University of North Texas Digital Library.

More events

September 17, 2025
Programs, Lectures & Talks

Science & Football: How Gatorade Fueled the Dawn of Sports Medicine

Phoebe Miles, cofounder of the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention, will tell the story of a drink that changed the world of sports.

worn cover of a recipe book from the 1500s
September 19, 2025
Free

Movies on the Mall: National Treasure 2

Join the Science History Institute at Movies on the Mall and learn about the history of parchment.

magazine ad featuring a baby in high chair pouring milk over a tray
September 20, 2025
Drop-In Tours

School Lunch Tour

This interactive drop-in tour reveals how food scientists, the government, and the public have shaped in-school nutrition.

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