Explore Exhibits
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Current Exhibitions
They're here now, but they won’t be here forever. You won’t want to miss these great temporary exhibitions. Be sure to visit the museum soon and see them before it's gone!
Be sure to check back to this web page to keep up to date on what’s at the Sternberg Museum.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Grandeur In This View
Now Showing
Grandeur In This View explores the intersection of art and science when taking a microscopic view of bones and teeth. Changes in lighting and magnification, and the application of filters, aid scientific interpretation while also constructing images that stimulate the imagination. In this 25-photograph collection, scientist Dr. Laura E. Wilson captures fossil and modern animals in ways that highlight the stunning abstractness as well as the scientific importance of viewing life through a microscope.
This exhibit was produced by Fort Hays State University's Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Pencil these exhibition dates into your calendar to help you plan your future visits. Be sure to check back to this web page to keep up to date on what’s at the Sternberg Museum.
Permanent Exhibits
The Sternberg Museum of Natural History currently houses about 3 million specimens in total; representing the disciplines of paleontology, paleobotany, geology, botany, entomology, ichthyology, herpetology, ornithology, and mammalogy.
In our permanent exhibits, you will have an opportunity to view some of our specimens from our collections, including our popular specimen Fish-within-a-fish. Our five permanent exhibits are, The Fossil Gallery, Bringing Fossils to Life, Rattlerssss: From Fear to Fascination, The Ice Age Hall, and the Earth Science Hall.
The Fossil Gallery
The Fossil Gallery not only holds our popular Fish-within-a-fish specimen, but it also holds both of Kansas' state fossils, the Tylosaurus and Pteranodon. A majority of the fossils are in Kansas, giving you an idea of what kind of environment the Great Plains looked like 65 million years ago.
Bringing Fossils to Life
Bringing Fossils to Life shows you the transformations that life has undertaken throughout time. With modern animals and their ancient relatives for comparisons, see the progression of evolution, and the motivations behind these changes.
Rattlerssss: From Fear to Fascination
The Sternberg Museum has created a one-of-a-kind educational exhibit on the rattlesnakes of the United States. Over 40 species of rattlesnakes are alive on the earth today, and over 20 of them occur somewhere in the United States.
This exhibit centers on the display of LIVE rattlesnakes, ranging from the gigantic Eastern Diamondback to the extremely toxic Tiger Rattlesnake. Come learn about where these snakes occur, the habitats they live in, and the unique behaviors and adaptations of each species. Check-in frequently, as the individual snakes in the display are regularly changed to show variations in color and pattern.
The Ice Age Hall
The Ice Age Hall displays prehistoric mammals as well as some modern mammals. During the Pleistocene Epoch, the Earth’s climate was undertaking some major changes. With dropping temperatures and more water turning into ice, the flora and fauna had to adjust to the new environment.
Exploring Earth Science Hall
The Exploring Earth Science Hall summarizes the work and purpose of geosciences, showcasing some findings by the Sternberg family. It also displays our rocks, minerals, and meteorites.
The Diorama
Take a step back 65 million years ago and see Kansas and Colorado during the Late Cretaceous Epoch. Dive into the Western Interior Seaway and “swim” with Xiphactinus and Tylosaurus. Hop on land and walk among the dinosaurs and animals that inhabited the shorelines of the seaway.