Fernbank Museum of Natural History facts for kids
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Fernbank Museum in 2019
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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 cool museum in Atlanta, Georgia. It's a place where you can learn all about natural history through awesome exhibits and programs. The museum has many exhibits that are always there, plus special ones that change often.
One of the most famous exhibits is Giants of the Mesozoic. It's in the main hall, called the atrium. Here, you can see a huge Argentinosaurus dinosaur skeleton, which is about 123 feet (37 meters) long! It's the biggest dinosaur ever found. You'll also see a Giganotosaurus there. Another popular exhibit is A Walk Through Time in Georgia. This one shows you the natural history of Georgia and how our planet developed over millions of years.
Fernbank Museum also has a special area called Fernbank NatureQuest. It's an exciting, hands-on exhibit made just for kids. NatureQuest has won big awards, like the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement. The Fernbank Science Center is nearby, but it's a different place run by the school system. It's not part of the Fernbank Museum.
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Discovering Fernbank's Past
The story of Fernbank began in the late 1800s. A person who loved nature, Emily Harrison, grew up in an area east of Atlanta. She called this special place "Fernbank."
In 1938, Emily Harrison and others worked together to create a plan for Fernbank. They bought 70 acres (28 hectares) of forest land. This is where the Fernbank Museum stands today. Later, in 1964, the people in charge of Fernbank teamed up with the DeKalb County School System. Together, they created the Fernbank Science Center. This made them want to share Fernbank's amazing natural resources with everyone.
Building the museum started in 1989. The Fernbank Museum of Natural History officially opened its doors to the public on October 5, 1992. The museum building is located behind some old houses. It has a cool glass-covered area that looks out over Fernbank Forest. Today, the museum is on 65 acres (26 hectares) of one of the largest old-growth forests in the Piedmont region. This means the trees there are very old and have been growing for a long time.
Exciting Museum Exhibits
Fernbank Museum has many different exhibits. They help you explore all sorts of natural history topics. Here are some of the cool exhibits you can find:
- Fernbank NatureQuest: A fun, interactive area for kids.
- Dinosaur Plaza: See more dinosaur displays.
- Giants of the Mesozoic: Home to the huge Argentinosaurus.
- A Walk Through Time in Georgia: Learn about Georgia's natural past.
- Reflections of Culture: Explore different cultures.
- Conveyed in Clay: Stories from St. Catherines Island: Discover history through pottery.
- Our Favorite Things: A collection of interesting items.
- World of Shells: See many types of shells.
- Fantastic Forces: Learn about science and forces.
- Sky High: Explore things that are high up.
- Star Gallery: Look at stars and space.
- STEAM Lab: A place for science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities.
The museum also has a special area for temporary exhibits. These exhibits usually stay for about two to four months. So, there's always something new to see!
Outdoor Adventures
In 2016, Fernbank Museum opened WildWoods. This is a 10-acre (4-hectare) outdoor area right behind the museum. It has trails and interactive exhibits where you can explore nature. Also in 2016, the museum opened up the newly fixed-up, 65-acre (26-hectare) Fernbank Forest for visitors to enjoy.
Giant Screen Theater
Fernbank has a huge movie screen called the Rankin M. Smith, Sr. Giant Screen Theater. It used to be an IMAX theater. In February 2017, it got upgraded with a new digital 4K 3D laser projection system. This makes movies look super clear and amazing!
Special Programs and Events
Fernbank offers many special activities for both kids and adults. These include fun camps, interesting talks, workshops, and family activity days. They even have storytelling!
One of the museum's most popular events is Fernbank After Dark. This happens on the second Friday of every month. It features hands-on learning activities, food, drinks, and live music. It's a great way to experience the museum at night!
FYI Volunteer Program
Fernbank Museum has a special volunteer program for teenagers aged 13 to 17. It's called FYI, which stands for Fernbank Youth Interpreter. FYI Volunteers help museum visitors and work at educational carts. They teach about many natural history topics, like Archaeology (studying old things), Paleontology (studying fossils), and Anatomy (studying bodies).
See also
- Fernbank Forest
- Fernbank Science Center
- List of natural history museums
