Fernbank Museum of Natural History

If you want to spend a fun-filled day with family or friends, Fernbank Museum of Natural History is the ultimate place to go! Witness the world’s largest dinosaurs, explore the development of Earth’s natural history through Georgia’s present-day landscapes, connect with cultures from around the world, participate in an array of hands-on activities and exhibits, and more. Located just minutes from downtown Atlanta, Fernbank Museum offers a world of wonder for adults and children alike.

Fernbank Museum is home to a variety of permanent exhibits that educate visitors about Georgia’s natural history, human senses, world culture and early Native American inhabitants. Among the permanent exhibits is Giants of the Mesozoic, an incredible opportunity to stand among the world’s largest dinosaurs,  Argentinosaurus and Giganotosaurus. Out-of-town visitors will especially enjoy a journey through the state’s diverse geologic regions on a voyage through the coast, swampland, mountains, valleys, caves, and more in the permanent exhibition A Walk Through Time in Georgia, which also explores some of the prehistoric inhabitants that once roamed our region.

In addition, Fernbank Museum hosts several special traveling exhibits that give visitors something new to discover throughout the year . Currently on view through May 2, 2010 is Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters, where visitors can learn about the science behind Earth’s most devastating natural disasters. Upcoming special exhibits include Geckos: Tails to Toepads (opening May 2010) and Water: H20=Life (opening October 2010).

Related Fernbank Museum Exhibits and Articles:
Butterflies and Other Insects
DeSoto Artifacts
Gecko Exhibit
Arabia at IMAX

After exploring the remarkable exhibits available only at Fernbank Museum, don’t leave just yet. Fernbank is home to the biggest movie screen in Atlanta in the IMAX® Theatre. Experience movie-watching as never before on a screen that stretches five stories high and 72 feet wide. Once you’ve witnessed the power and sharpness of an IMAX® film, you’ll be back for more on the big screen!

Interactive exhibits and alluring IMAX® films aren’t all that Fernbank Museum has to offer. Special family programs and events include Family Fun Days, weekend programming in the Naturalist Center, Scout Days, sleepovers, summer camps, birthday party packages and more! Check Fernbank’s web site at fernbankmuseum.org for what will be offered the day of your visit.

Fernbank’s not just for children and families. Young professionals and other adults can get their weekend started right at Fernbank’s Martinis & IMAX®! Join us every Friday night (January through November) for live music, tasty cocktails, thrilling films and delicious cuisine. Martinis & IMAX® is perfect for any occasion – a date with that special someone, a night out with friends, a birthday celebration, or a unique experience for visiting family and friends.

Exploring the cultures, prehistoric animals, wildlife, fossils and wonders of the world can work up quite an appetite. The Fernbank Café features pizzas, sandwiches, kids’ meals, salads, special entrees and more to keep your energy levels up for the adventure. After so many memorable experiences, visitors will want to stop in the Fernbank Museum Store for a souvenir. The Museum Store offers a variety of great gifts for every budget, including jewelry, minerals, games, toys, clothing, books, dvds, home decor and more.  Whatever the day, whatever the occasion, Fernbank Museum of Natural History combines adventure, learning and fun for all ages!

Summer Events at Fernbank Museum:

May

Special exhibition Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters (closes May 2)

Special exhibition Geckos: Tails to Toepads (opens May 28)

Forces of Nature in the IMAX^® Theatre (closes May 27)

Arabia in the IMAX^® Theatre

Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure in the IMAX^® Theatre (opens May 28)

Ride Around the World in the IMAX^® Theatre—Showing exclusively during Martinis & IMAX®

Martinis & IMAX^® presented by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

1              Archaeology Day

8              Storytelling

31           Memorial Day—Fernbank open during normal business hours

June

Special exhibition Geckos: Tails to Toepads

Arabia in the IMAX^® Theatre

Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure in the IMAX^® Theatre

Ride Around the World in the IMAX^® Theatre—Showing exclusively during Martinis & IMAX®

Martinis & IMAX^® presented by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

6              Geckos Family Celebration

7-11       Summer Camp: Junior Naturalists

12           Lost Oasis: A Museum Masquerade

14-18     Summer Camp: Junior Naturalists

21-25    Summer Camp: Discovery Team

28-July 2  Summer Camp: Discovery Team

July

Special exhibition Geckos: Tails to Toepads

Arabia in the IMAX^® Theatre (closes July 29)

Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure in the IMAX^® Theatre

Martinis & IMAX^® presented by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

4 Independence Day—Fernbank open during normal business hours

10 Reptile Day

12-16 Summer Camp: Science Squad

19-23 Summer Camp: Science Squad

August

Special exhibition Geckos: Tails to Toepads

Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure in the IMAX^® Theatre

Martinis & IMAX^® presented by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

21 Dinosaur Birthday Bash

Descriptions:

• SPECIAL EXHIBITION

Geckos: Tails to Toepads

May 28 – September 5, 2010

Discover the amazing world of geckos in this collection of more than 15 live gecko species, from shadowy nighttime hunters with unbelievable camouflage to neon-colored nectar eaters that scamper around in daylight. Learn about their night vision, magnify gecko toepads, listen to gecko voices, watch video clips of geckos in action, try to spot camouflaged geckos and build a custom gecko for various environments.

• IMAX FILMS

Forces of Nature

February 6 – May 27, 2010

Join scientists as they follow earthquakes, tornados, volcanic eruptions and severe storms to determine what triggers these natural disasters. Presented in conjunction with the special exhibition Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters.

Arabia

March 12 – July 29, 2010

Travel to the exotic and fascinating land of Arabia. Explore the ancient tombs of a lost city; dive through the reefs of the Red Sea; and experience the Hajj — the largest gathering of people on Earth. Discover an extraordinary culture and experience modern day Arabia in the midst of monumental change.

Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure

Opens May 28, 2010

Get a bug’s-eye-view of the beautiful and sometimes bizarre world of insects. Bugs! will magnify the miniscule world of insects and uncover the secrets of their success—from metamorphosis to mastery, predator to prey and community to concealment. Presented in conjunction with the special exhibition Geckos.

• SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING

Fernbank Summer Camp
Don’t miss this opportunity for your child to experience a fun-filled week of activities, crafts, games and more. Fernbank Museum’s summer day camps consist of week-long age appropriate sessions for rising Kindergarten through 5th grade students. Educators will guide campers on an exploration of the scientific world: ecology, paleontology, entomology and more!

Cost: Members: $300/ week; non-members: $350/ week.

Archaeology Day
Saturday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dig in for a day of family fun and discover how archaeology works through hands-on activities, displays and demonstrations. Guests will also learn how archaeologists sift through the past to unearth our history.

Reptile Day

Saturday, July 10, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Slither like a snake to Fernbank Museum and enjoy up-close encounters with a variety of live reptiles and amphibians at this annual family fun day! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to interact with and learn more about reptiles and amphibians. An assortment of live specimens will be on display in the Museum’s Great Hall for the seventh annual Reptile Day. Members of the Georgia Herpetological Society will be on hand to answer questions and educate guests about the importance of these unique animals. Lizards, snakes and tortoises are scheduled to be among the 30-40 different animals that will be part of the program. Fernbank Educators will present select species and provide visitors an even closer look.

• ONGOING PROGRAMMING

Fernbank’s Martinis & IMAX®
Fridays, January through November, 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Shake it up with Atlanta’s perfect mix of culture and cocktails. Films, menus and music change regularly, so it’s never the same experience twice!

Weekends in the Naturalist Center
Enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities every weekend in the Naturalist Center. Activities vary from animal encounters to science explorations and more, and will be available every weekend. Check the activity sign when you arrive to see what’s happening.

Storytelling
Select Saturdays at noon

Enjoy exciting tales about the natural world with Fernbank’s storyteller-in-residence, Rob Cleveland. Suitable for children ages 3 and up.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

767 Clifton Rd. NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

Phone: 404.929.6300

Tickets: 404.929.6400 or fernbankmuseum.org

Visitor Information: www.fernbankmuseum.org