Peabody Museum of Natural History in Connecticut

Out of the all of the things to do in Connecticut, visiting museums is surely an all time favorite. Many museums in Connecticut offer guests the chance to explore science, learn more about art and culture, and explore the rich history of Connecticut. In fact, you could spend several days visiting Connecticut Museums. One day you could learn about great artists of the 18th century at the Wadsworth Atheneum, and the next day you could be learning about the life of Mark Twain at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford. The Peabody Museum of Natural History, located in New Haven, is a part of Yale University. It is one of the Connecticut museums where you will learn about science through a complete collection of both permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as museum programs, events, and activities.

Permanent exhibits on the first floor of the Peabody Museum include “Fossil Fragments: The Riddle of Human Origins,” the “Hall of Native American Cultures,” and the “Hall of Mammalian Evolution.” Visitors to the Peabody Museum of Natural History can compare their footprints with a replica of footprints preserved in volcanic ash from 3.7 million years ago. Stone tools, skulls, and other fossils that were used by early humans are displayed on the Peabody Museum’s first floor.

Venturing up to the second floor, you would find a life-sized bronze sculpture of the dinosaur Torosaurus latus. The sculpture, weighing over 7000 pounds, was made by the Connecticut museums team of paleontologists, zoologists, and other scientists who strived to make the sculpture as accurate as possible. The base of the sculpture is made out of the same kind of granite that was used for the statue of liberty.

The permanent exhibits on the third floor include “Daily life in Ancient Egypt,” which documents Egyptian civilization through the years, as well as the “Mineral Hall,” “North American Dioramas,” “Birds of Connecticut,” and the “Hall of Minerals, Earth and Space.” Many visitors are amazed when they learn about how many species of birds are native to Connecticut. In addition to these permanent collections, there are also spaces in the museum devoted to “traveling exhibits” that only reside in the museum for a limited period of time. These kinds of exhibits are usually designed by developers at other world-renowned museums such as the Smithsonian.

The museum isn’t just about exhibitions. They are devoted to educating adults and youth by offering an array of summer and day camps, after school programs, and lectures for people of all ages. On your next trip to New Haven, plan to spend a day learning about the natures of the earth by visiting the Peabody Museum of Natural History. They are open all year on both weekends and weekdays. It is best to call the museum or check their website to find out more about special exhibits, events, and lectures. No matter what time of year you decide to visit the Peabody Museum, it is practically guaranteed that you won’t be disappointed.