Past Exhibitions

Gold

Gold, an enduring icon of wealth, beauty and power. Since the beginning of recorded history, the rise of influential societies has coincided with their ownership of the precious substance.

November 18, 2006 - August 19, 2007

Horse

Horses have been racing across the landscape for more than 50 million years--much longer than our own species has existed. But once horses and humans encountered each other, our two species became powerfully linked.

May 17, 2008 - January 4, 2009

Traveling Information

Mythic Creatures

Track the origins of legendary creatures including dragons, unicorns, mermaids, and sea serpents.

January 1, 2008 - January 6, 2008

Traveling Information

Pearls

The most comprehensive presentation ever mounted on pearls weaves science, art, literature, history, and fabulous jewelry into the story of pearl-forming mollusks.

January 1, 2002 - April 14, 2002

Petra

Once a flourishing city in the heart of the ancient Near East...then forgotten by the outside world for centuries. Now Petra reveals some of its long-lost secrets.

October 18, 2003 - July 6, 2004

Totems to Turquoise

For thousands of years, the Native peoples of North America have made extraordinary jewelry and other adornments. Today throughout the continent that tradition is still alive–and vibrant.

October 30, 2004 - July 10, 2005

Origins of the Solar System

Meteorites are pieces of ancient celestial bodies, some so old they contain particles that formed before our Sun existed. These resources engage learners to explore how our solar system works, and how scientists think it all began.

Resources

Hands-on Activity

Cosmic Cookies

Did you know Jupiter's Great Red Spot is really a 300-year-old hurricane that's twice as wide as Earth? Find out more awesome facts. Then celebrate your cosmic smarts with a solar system of cookies.

Activity

How the Sun Works

Talk about a long-term power source. For billions and billions of years, the Sun has been giving off energy that equals 4 x 10²⁶ watts. What keeps the Sun burning so bright?

Article

Profile: Cecilia Payne and the Composition of the Stars

What are the stars made of? At 25, Cecilia Payne answered this fundamental question in her Ph.D. thesis. Her pioneering work also made it possible to read a star's surface temperature.

curriculum materials

The Search for Life: Are We Alone? Educator's Guide Insert

Life exists on Earth because of the favorable balance of water, elements, and other conditions. What would happen if the balance changed? And what role did the formation of the solar system play?

Article

Cosmic Chemistry

What happened after the Big Bang? This comic strip explains the interactions that lead to the creation of stars, planetary nebulas, and supernovas.