Fernbank Museum of Natural History facts for kids
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| Established | October 5, 1992 |
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| Location | 767 Clifton Road NE Atlanta |
| Type | Natural History |
The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a super cool museum in Atlanta, Georgia. It's all about natural history, which means learning about nature and how our planet works. The museum has lots of amazing exhibits that stay all the time, plus special ones that visit for a short while. It was designed by Graham Gund Architects.
One of the most exciting parts is the Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit. It's in the museum's big open hall, called the atrium. Here, you can see a giant Argentinosaurus dinosaur skeleton, which is 123-foot (37 m) long! That's like two school buses! There's also a Giganotosaurus dinosaur. Another cool exhibit is A Walk Through Time in Georgia. It shows you how Georgia's nature has changed over millions of years.
Fernbank Museum has won many awards for its Fernbank NatureQuest exhibit. This is a fun, hands-on area especially for kids. It won the 2012 Thea Award for being an amazing museum exhibit. The nearby Fernbank Science Center is a different place. It's run by the DeKalb County Board of Education and is not connected to Fernbank Museum.
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How Fernbank Museum Started
In the late 1800s, a nature-lover named Emily Harrison lived near Atlanta. She called her special spot "Fernbank." In 1938, Emily and others helped create a plan for Fernbank. They bought 70 acres (280,000 m2) of forest land where the museum now stands.
In 1964, the Fernbank leaders and the DeKalb County School System started the Fernbank Science Center. This made people want to share Fernbank's natural wonders with everyone.
Work on the new museum building began in 1989. It was designed by Graham Gund Architects. On October 5, 1992, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History opened its doors! The building is tucked behind old houses. It has a glass-covered atrium that looks out over Fernbank Forest. Today, Fernbank Museum sits on 65 acres (260,000 m2) of the biggest old-growth forest in the Piedmont area.
Awesome Exhibits to Explore
Fernbank Museum has many exhibits about different natural history topics. You can discover things like:
- Fernbank NatureQuest
- Dinosaur Plaza
- Giants of the Mesozoic
- A Walk Through Time in Georgia
- Reflections of Culture
- Conveyed in Clay: Stories from St. Catherines Island
- Our Favorite Things
- World of Shells
- Fantastic Forces
- Sky High
- Star Gallery
- STEAM Lab
The museum also has a special area for temporary exhibits. These exhibits usually stay for about 2 to 4 months.
Outdoor Adventures
In 2016, Fernbank opened WildWoods. This is a 10-acre outdoor area right behind the museum. It has trails and fun, interactive exhibits. In 2016, you could also visit the newly fixed-up, 65-acre Fernbank Forest.
Giant Screen Movies
Fernbank has the Rankin M. Smith, Sr. Giant Screen Theater. It used to be an IMAX theater. In 2017, it got new upgrades. Now it has a super clear 4K 3D laser projection system.
Special Events and Programs
Fernbank offers cool activities for both kids and adults. These include camps, talks, workshops, and family activity days.
One of Fernbank's most popular events is Fernbank After Dark. It happens on the second Friday of every month. It features hands-on learning activities, food, drinks, and live music.
FYI Volunteer Program for Teens
Fernbank Museum has a volunteer program just for teens aged 13–17. It's called FYI (Fernbank Youth Interpreter). FYI Volunteers help museum guests. They work at educational carts throughout the museum. They teach about many natural history topics, like archaeology, paleontology, and anatomy.
See also
- Fernbank Forest
- Fernbank Science Center
- List of natural history museums
