October 9–December 22, 2006

In the Upper Mandell Center

This engaging exhibition explores the life and discoveries of Charles Darwin, whose insights led to the theory of evolution, forever changing the perception of the origin and nature of our own species and launching modern biological science.

Students will experience the wonders Darwin witnessed in the 1830s on his historic five–year voyage to South America, the Galápagos Islands and beyond. Included in the exhibition are two live 50-pound Galápagos tortoises, a five-foot iguana and South American horned frogs, as well as carnivorous plants and orchids. The most complete collection of specimens, artifacts, manuscripts and memorabilia ever assembled, the exhibit includes Darwin’s notebook from his original voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, as well as an elaborate reconstruction of the naturalist’s study at Down House, where he proposed his revolutionary theory suggesting that life on Earth is not static, but changing.

Darwin was organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org), in collaboration with the Museum of Science, Boston; The Field Museum, Chicago; the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada; and the Natural History Museum, London, England.

Presented by Cephalon.

In the Tuttleman IMAX Theater

Galápagos
Part scientific expedition, part fantastic voyage, this amazing non-fiction film delves deep into the largely unknown waters surrounding the volcanic archipelago, an area visited by Charles Darwin in 1835. See full description.

Live Shows and Workshops

Bug Classification Lab Grades 3–5
Darwin was a keen observer of nature. His attention to detail allowed him to notice the small differences between species and helped him to classify different animals and plants. In this hands-on workshop students will have the opportunity to get an up close view of some REAL arthropods including tarantulas, scorpions, cockroaches, millipedes, centipedes and more. They will use their powers of observation to search for their similarities and their differences, and learn about various invertebrates’ unique adaptations that enable them to survive in their environment.

Owl Pellet Dissection Lab Grades 6–8
Darwin believed that the availability of food is a driving force in the evolution of a species. One amazing animal adaptation is an owl’s digestive system. In this hands-on workshop students will dissect an owl pellet and discover the secrets of their digestion, the story of the creatures they prey on, and the environment in which they live. Assume the role of a naturalist to find out how natural selection determines what an owl eats for lunch!

DNA Lab Grades 9–12
Darwin developed his model of evolution by studying anatomy and physiology and comparing fossil records. Now, techniques developed in molecular biology facilitate such comparisons. In this hands-on workshop students will examine the genetic variation in DNA and discover how studying evolution at this level can expand our knowledge of natural selection and the common ancestry among species.

Live reptiles! Exploring Darwin’s Theories
(Content adjusted for age of audience)
What adaptations help an alligator eat almost anything that strays too close? How can a boa constrictor make an accurate strike even in complete darkness? What can reptiles tell us about evolutionary processes in action? See, touch and learn more about these powerful animals while exploring topics in adaptation, natural selection and other evolutionary concepts. This show uses live reptiles and incorporates audience participation, science demonstrations and visual media to bring Darwin’s work to life.