Submitted by Courtenay Smith, Executive Director
Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc.
GOLDTHWAITE, TX – The Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive
Center, Inc. (TBG&NAIC) together with Friends of the Night Sky, Lampasas, invite the
public to an enchanting evening under the stars as we pre-celebrate NASA’s
International Observe the Moon Night. This special event will highlight the beauty and
wonder of Central Texas’ dark night skies.
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Legacy Plaza, 1219 Fisher St., Goldthwaite, Texas 76844
The evening will open with engaging conversations led by Beth Griess (Friends of the
Night Sky) and Keith Shank (TBG&NAIC), who will inspire attendees to experience the
heavens from a fresh perspective.
As twilight deepens, guests will enjoy wine and cheese while mingling with fellow
stargazers, making new friends, and sharing conversations that reach as far as the
cosmos.
Later in the evening, participants will have the opportunity to look through high-powered
telescopes for an up-close view of the Moon’s captivating craters and ridges.
Guests are encouraged to stay and explore Saturn and Neptune, distant star clusters,
and even the Milky Way itself—soaking in the awe and wonder of a truly dark Texas
night.
“Looking through a telescope at the Moon or the many wonders in the Milky Way can be
a life-changing experience,” notes Courtenay Smith, Executive Director of the Texas
Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center. “It reminds us that science,
wonder, and imagination are deeply connected—and that preserving our dark skies
ensures future generations will share in that same awe.”
This event is free for TBG&NAIC and Friends of the Night Sky members, $5 for
nonmembers. Bring your curiosity and sense of wonder for a night of discovery and
connection beneath the stars!
Coming soon:
Prairie Experience 2025, sixteenth annual signature fundraiser
Saturday, October 4, 2025, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Goldthwaite Pavilion
Observe the Moon at Space Night
Collaboration between Goldthwaite CISD and TBG&NAIC
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Goldthwaite Elementary School
TBG&NAIC Booth at Nature Fest, Bosque River Nature Center, Stephenville
Saturday, October 11, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Kirby Fry: Permaculture Design and the Natural Regions of Texas
Saturday, October 18, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Goldthwaite Pavilion
Jessie Woodall, Bat World Sanctuary: Winged Night Voyagers – Bat Migration and
Conservation in Central Texas
Saturday, November 8, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Goldthwaite Pavilion
A Time Before Texas, exhibition created by the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) and presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the
National Endowment for the Humanities. Hosted by the Texas Botanical Gardens &
Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. and the City of Goldthwaite.
December 1 – 31, 2025
Mon. – Fri., 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Sat. – Sun., 10:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Goldthwaite Welcome Center
About the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center
Located in Goldthwaite, Texas, Legacy Plaza is home to the Texas Botanical Gardens
& Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. a nonprofit organization dedicated to
education, conservation, and cultural heritage. The Gardens offer an immersive look at
native plant life, while the Center integrates archaeology, Indigenous history, and
ecological stewardship.
P O Box 513
Goldthwaite, TX 76844
325-451-1075