Anniston Museum of Natural History facts for kids
| Established | December 1976 |
|---|---|
| Location | Anniston, Alabama |
| Type | Natural history museum |
| Visitors | 85,000 each year (average) |
The Anniston Museum of Natural History is an exciting museum located in Lagarde Park, Anniston, Alabama. It's a fantastic place to explore the natural world. The museum displays more than 2,000 items. These include cool minerals, ancient fossils, and even rare animals. Many animals are shown in realistic settings called dioramas.
What Can You See at the Anniston Museum of Natural History?
This museum helps you discover Alabama’s natural heritage. It also takes you on a journey through time and across continents. The exhibits use diorama-style displays. They start from pre-history and go all the way to the North American wilderness. You can even visit the African savannah! Each of the museum's seven exhibit halls explores a different natural history topic.
Exploring Amazing Exhibits
The museum has many different areas to explore. Each one teaches you something new about our planet and its creatures.
Journey Through Africa
The Environments of Africa Hall is a must-see. It features over 100 African animals. They are displayed in settings that look just like their natural homes. It feels like you're on a safari!
Ancient Wonders: Egyptian Mummies
Another highlight is the exhibit with 2,000-year-old Egyptian mummies. These mummies are from the Ptolemaic period. You can learn about ancient Egyptian history and burial customs.
Discovering Our Planet: Dynamic Earth
The Dynamic Earth exhibit shows how our planet was formed. It includes a cool collection of minerals, fossils, and gemstones. You can even see amazing dinosaur displays!
Hands-On Fun: Nature Space
Nature Space is a large learning area. It offers many hands-on activities. This is a great place to get involved and learn by doing.
Special Changing Exhibits
The museum also has a Changing Exhibit Gallery. This means there are always new and exciting displays to see. These exhibits change regularly, so there's always something fresh.
How Did the Museum Start?
The museum's history began in 1930. A man named H. Severn Regar offered his personal collection to the city of Anniston. This collection included historical objects and biological specimens. It even had items from extinct and endangered species. These were collected by a 19th-century naturalist named William Werner.
Birds of the Americas
Mr. Regar's generous gift became the start of the museum. It formed the main part of the Birds of the Americas exhibit hall. This hall features more than 400 different kinds of North American birds. They are shown in their natural habitats.
A Smithsonian Connection
The Anniston Museum of Natural History is also special because it is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. This means it works with one of the largest museum complexes in the world.
