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Exhibits

mythic creatures

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids

Touch fossils, explore winged mythological creatures, build your own dragon and come face to face with a giant legendary sea monster.

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skeletal mount of Tyrannosaurus in Dinosaur Hall

Dinosaur Hall

More than 30 dinosaurs and other Mesozoic reptiles are represented in Dinosaur Hall.

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butterfly

Butterflies!

Live butterflies from Central and South America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia inhabit our tropical garden.

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Diorama of American pronghorn showing one male, three females and a young individual.

Dioramas

More than 35 dioramas present wildlife from Africa, Asia, and North America.

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Touching snake in Outside In

Outside In

Our indoor discovery center for children features hands-on activities and close encounters with live animals.

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Gallery Highlights

The Big Dig

Dig for fossils in this hands-on exhibit.

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Drawn to Dinosaurs

Drawn to Dinosaurs

Featuring a full cast of the duck-billed dinosaur Hadrosaurus foulkii, this exhibit reveals the science and art of visualizing a living dinosaur based on fragmentary fossils.

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thorny oyster in 'Marveling at Mollusks'

Marveling at Mollusks

Nearly 100 specimens from the scientific collections of the Academy’s Malacology Department are on display.

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mother and son looking at reconstruction of the fossil Tikaalik in Science at the Academy

Science at the Academy

The world-class science conducted at the Academy is on display.

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diorama parts, videos and a taxidermied gazelle in 'Secrets of the Diorama'

Secrets of the Diorama

Learn about the history of the dioramas and see how the plants, animals, and paintings were created.

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school of fish in the What Eats What exhibit

What Eats What

What Eats What presents the consumers and producers that make up the food chain in a stream.

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Past Exhibits

Tiny Titans

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Crocs: Ancient Predators in a Modern World

Come face-to-snout with live crocodilians, a group of reptiles that has evolved and thrived for 200 million years.

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Xtreme Bugs

Come face-to-feet with nearly 20 massive, colorful, moving bugs!

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Backyard Adventures

Leap into a garden of wonders, where you can experience the magic of a special backyard world.

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Dinosaurs Unearthed

Roaring, moving, life-size dinosaurs invade the Academy for a multi-sensory experience for the whole family.

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Frogs: A Chorus of Colors

Check out live frogs of many hues, listen to their colorful chorus, and admire the many ways they swim, hop, glide, and soar. 

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animal grossology

Animal Grossology

Based on Sylvia Branzei’s best-selling children’s book series Grossology, this hands-on 3-D exhibit oozes with disgusting science and provides a slightly off-kilter view of the animal kingdom.

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