Welcome to the wild side!
African animals gather at the watering hole.
Each year, high school docents provide tours to thousands of children. At the watering hole, children learn about lion prides, zebra stripes, and elephant ears.
Fossils, Native American artifacts, and a forestry exhibit are protected by our young "Rexie".
Authentic artifacts are representative of multiple Eastern African tribes. The display case was hand crafted by prisoners detained on Alcatraz Island.
A variety of animals are displayed in North America. The small white bear is not a polar bear, it is a leucistic grizzly. This is a very rare occurrence in both the grizzly and the black bear.
Often referred to as a "pronghorn antelope", in reality, the pronghorn is not an antelope. Unique characteristics separate this animal into its own genus not associated with the antelope.
Over 12,000 years ago, Acinonyx trumani, a cheetah-like cat roamed the plains of North America. This now extinct cat competed against the pronghorn in an 'evolutionary arms race', causing both species to develop the capacity to run at a much higher speed compared to many other North American species. In addition to the pronghorn's superior speed, it also evolved with the ability to see potential predators from vast distances unlike any other North American animal.
Allow yourself time to view the mineral, avian, and poaching display. The "Gard Collection" is truly amazing. In 1910, the egg collection was started by well-known ornithologist and taxidermist, Albert B. Gard.
Our reptile room is home to both native and rare reptiles and amphibians. High school docents care for over a hundred live animals each day.
The Steven E. Nelson Adventure Center is dedicated to the young nature enthusiast. Visitors are encouraged to explore the un-familiar by touch!
A young museum guest is amazed at the similarities of shark skin and a placoid scale.
The easy to care for and short lived non-native stick bug could be considered the perfect classroom pet. However, known as a threat to agriculture and native plants, these invasive insects should NEVER be released.
No trip to the museum is complete without time in
our outside classroom. Our iguanas like the sunshine, too.
