Wednesday, January 8, 2003
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Wednesday, January 8, 2003 |
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Fernbank has several exhibits offering entertainment and education By MICHAEL
BOYLAN One of the best forms of entertainment is something that is educational as well as enjoyable. The Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta has some amazing IMAX films and exhibits, in addition to the year-round exhibits, to both educate and entertain their visitors. Currently playing in their IMAX theatre are "Whales" and "Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West." "Whales" follows the migratory patterns of different kinds of whales through areas including Alaska, Newfoundland, Patagonia, California and Hawaii. Some of the types of whales appearing in the film include orca, blue, humpback, right and killer. "Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West" is a film that features a dramatization of explorer Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's journey to the west coast through the land purchased by the Louisiana Purchase. Their expedition spanned over 8,000 miles and lasted over two and a half years. Lewis and Clark saw some amazing sites on their journey west and back and met several groups of native Americans as well. "Whales" will run through May 23 while Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West" will run through March 14. For more information on the films, visit www.fernbank.edu/museum or phone 404-929-6300 or 404-929-6400. Fernbank also has a fascinating exhibit called "The Tiniest Giants: Discovering Dinosaur Eggs" running through Feb. 17. The hands-on exhibit allows visitors to plan an expedition searching for fossils, decide where to dig for fossils, transport specimens from the field to the lab and prepare them for scientific study. Scientists discovered fossilized dinosaur eggs in Patagonia while searching for ancient bird fossils. Through the examination of the fossilized dinosaur eggs, paleontologists have learned quite a bit about the area and the dinosaurs that used to live there. This exhibit also works well with the "Giants of the Mesozoic" exhibit, also running at Fernbank, which features the world's largest dinosaurs. One of the dinosaurs on display, an Argentinosaurus, is also on display as an egg in the dinosaur egg exhibit. Fernbank is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for students/seniors, $10 for children under the age of 12 and free for members. Phone 404-929-6400 for more information. |
