This post is brought to you by NHMU. All opinions are my own.
Last week I had the fun opportunity to go to the Natural History Museum of Utah and go on a tour of some of the exhibits and even get a behind the scenes of a couple of places. We had a great time and really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to take my family back and really explore everything. They also have a great cafe there where you can enjoy a delicious meal or stop in for a snack or drink. There is so much to see and do at the NHMU, so be sure to go when you have time to look around and explore!
NMHU Paleo Prep Lab
The first place that we visited on our tour was the Paleo Prep Lab. This was very cool! It is not very often that you get to go behind the scenes like this and learn more about the fossils and what they do to prep them once they are found. Some of the fossils we saw were 75 million years old. I can’t even comprehend that. It’s amazing. My daughter loved the hands on (she got to touch fossilized dinosaur teeth that were millions of years old). The workers are very passionate and knowledgeable and it was great to meet them and learn from them.
Past Worlds Exhibit
Utah’s past worlds are brought to life in displays that capture plant and animal diversity, sights, sounds and smells long lost ecosystems. Participate in the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry mystery by “casting your vote” on the theory you agree with most, be a paleontologist for a day in our dinosaur dig, and be a guest at an Ice Age dinner party. In this gallery there are dozens of skeletal reconstructions on display, including a Gryposaurus (duck-billed) dinosaur made of original fossil material, and the world’s largest display of horned dinosaur skulls.
The next place on our tour was the Past Worlds Exhibit. This was an amazing place fill with dinosaurs, fossils, and history about Utah. They have glass floors you can walk on with bones underneath so it shows you what a real fossil dig site looks like. There is so much to look at here you will want to take your time and look at it all. Be sure to look for the fossils that have the petrified dinosaur skin on them. It is very rare and extremely cool!
The Power of Poison
We saw a lot of really cool things along the way, but the last exhibit that we went to on this tour was the new Power of Poison exhibit. It is only there for a limited time so be sure to visit the Natural History Museum of Utah and see it before it leaves. It was a lot of fun to learn more about poison and the benefits and downfalls of it. The Poison Live! presentation was also really great and informative.
Ever consider the possibility of being poisoned by your own hat? Or how a venomous snake could possibly be used to save lives? Come explore poison and its surprising role in our natural and cultural history through immersive environments and engaging interactives. From fairy tales to modern medicine, The Power of Poison explains what’s real, what’s myth, and what remains a mystery.
Here is what you can expect:
- Explore a remote Colombian forest and meet live animals that use poison in their daily struggle to survive and thrive.
- Investigate some of history’s most intriguing poisoning cases, many of which remain unsolved to this day.
- Find out which tales of illness, enchantment, or death by poison—from Shakespeare to Snow White—contain kernels of truth.
- Learn how studying poison’s effects on human cells helps scientists figure out how to protect, repair, and heal us.
- Watch a live theatrical performance, Poison Live!, that examines a real-world poisoning case from the 1830s
Take the Highlights Tour for a behind-the-scenes look at NHMU and our collections. Participate in a totally unique experience and learn the stories the exhibits alone can’t tell. An expert guide will weave you through 42,000 square feet of copper to share with you the most exciting objects the Museum has on display. They will reveal all their insider knowledge, so captivating it’s guaranteed to spark new curiosity in anyone! Utah is an amazing place, and this tour will show you why.
Tour Schedule:
- Fridays – 2pm
- Saturdays & Sundays – 12pm and 2pm
Tours are $2. Children under 12 are free.
Tickets are on sale at the Admissions Desk and Museum Store.
- Tours run approximately 1 hour.
- Audio devices are available for guests who are hard of hearing.
- Group tours available upon request. Click here for more information.
- Tours are subject to change.
We are excited to be hosting a fun giveaway! Win a four pack of tickets so you can take your families and go experience this amazing, fun and educational place for yourselves. Be sure to take a camera! Entering is easy. Just wait for the rafflecoptor to load below and enter. Must be 18 or older to enter. Open to Utah residents only. Giveaway will run from 3/29-4/3. The winner will be notified in an email and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!
You can learn more about Natural History Museum of Utah on:
WEBSITE: https://nhmu.utah.edu
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/naturalhistorymuseumofutah
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/NHMU
The poison exhibit would be very interesting! What a cool museum!
I grew up regularly attending the Smithsonian. I’d lived in Utah for almost 10 years when I finally made it to this museum. It’s seriously on par with those back east. It’s amazing and I love it so much!
My son would love this! He is crazy or dinosaurs. I will have to try to go soon because I would really like to see the power of poison exhibit.
OMG! This is a great museum! The dinosaur are so awesome! My kids will surely enjoy this.
I love taking the kids to museums because it’s a fun learning experience! Plus their eyes light up every time they see something new which is really lovely to see when you’re a parent. I think this place is a must visit!
It’s so interesting to see how fossils are revealed. It seems like such painstaking work, but definitely worth it. Looks like they’ve done a great job of creating an immersive experience at this museum.
omyy! thats a very interesting museum!! i love everything on this post, they are all look great! i like it!! very interesting to visit someday!