About

Bizarre Beasts Past and Present takes you back in time—and into a few of life’s modern nooks and crannies—to experience first-hand some of the strangest animals ever to inhabit the Earth. It explores the forces that cause life to change over time and adapt to different environments. And it lets you see for yourself that fact often really is stranger than fiction.

Many—even most—of the animals in the exhibit seem nearly unbelievable. But each and every one of the animals featured in Bizarre Beasts Past and Present ran, swam, flew, or crawled upon the Earth at some point during its long history.

See some of the earliest forms of life, struggling to survive challenging conditions. Experience the first vertebrates and watch their transition from the water to land. Witness some of the world’s weirdest reptiles. Be there as mammals, starting from humble beginnings, diversify into nearly every niche on the planet.

The exhibit’s modular, non-linear design allows each venue to customize layout and total square footage, ensuring that Bizarre Beasts Past and Present can meet unique space and audience needs. Large models and realistic reconstructions provide visual drama as well as flexibility.

Highlights of the exhibit include:

• Seven content modules featuring
  - Authentic cast skeletons of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals
  - Realistic fleshed-out animal reconstructions
  - Engaging touch casts and models
  - Real touchable fossils
  - Audience-friendly interpretive labels and activities
• Interactive computer game about natural selection
• Video theater
• Two stand-alone hands-on interactives, including a rubbing station and bone puzzle