Harvard Museum of Natural History

Ongoing Exhibits
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EVOLUTION, New Permanent Exhibition
Opening Saturday, April 18, 2009
EVOLUTION is a new exhibit of life’s major transitions-the move from water to land, advent of mammals, humans. Peek at ongoing research at Harvard, like human origins or bacteria that evolve before your eyes.
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Language of Color
Whether it’s the brilliant blue wings of a butterfly, the scarlet feathers of a tanager, or the stripes of a zebra, animals display color in vastly different ways and for different reasons. This exhibit combines dramatic specimens from across the animal kingdom with computer interactives, hands-on activities, and a stunning display of live dart frogs. Visitors will learn how color and its perception have co-evolved, resulting in a complex and diverse palette used to camouflage, startle predators, mimic other animals, attract a mate, or intimidate a rival. Through September 6, 2009.
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Climate Change: Our Global Experiment
Ongoing
Developed in collaboration with the Harvard University Center for the Environment Climate Change: Our Global Experiment will help you separate truth from spin and provide a basis for making informed decisions affecting the future of our planet. The exhibit offers an insider’s look at the scientific study of climate, presenting the latest research from renowned experts at Harvard and around the world. Get the facts, draw your own conclusions, then take part in a unique computer simulation that allows you to choose a course of action and see the consequences for the planet.
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Our extraordinary permanent exhibits-check out our pictures!
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The Glass Flowers
One of the Museum’s most famous treasures is the internationally acclaimed Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, the “Glass Flowers”. This unique collection of over 4,000 models—some 3,000 on display—was created by the glass artisans, Leopold Blaschka and his son, Rudolph. The commission began in 1886, continued for five decades, and represents more than 830 plant species.
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The Zoological Galleries
The zoological galleries feature examples of animals ranging from the earliest prehistoric creatures, including fossil invertebrates, reptiles, and dinosaurs, to today’s mammals, birds, and fish from around the world. Exhibition highlights include the Triceratops type specimen (first ever described) and the world’s only mounted Kronosaurus, a 42-foot-long prehistoric marine reptile.
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Arthropods: Creatures that Rule
Featuring hands-on activities, dramatic specimen displays, colorful video and graphics, and even live animals, this exhibition draws on the latest scientific research to explore arthropods’ extraordinary evolutionary success and their impact on our lives. Evolving for more than 500 million years, these creatures range in size from giant king crabs to microscopic mites, represent over 80% of all animal species, and have colonized every corner of the planet.
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The Mineralogical and Geological Gallery
The mineralogical and geological galleries include mineral collections displayed both systematically and thematically, and sparkling displays of gemstones in both rough and cut examples, including a 1,600 pound amethyst geode from Brazil. Special features of the Gallery include a stunning assortment of meteorites discovered around the globe—some touchable—and Impact!, a dynamic video presentation that explores meteorite origins and the factors that bring these extra-terrestrial bodies in contact with Earth.
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