The Natural History Museum of Utah is one of the landmark locations in the Salt Lake Valley. With a sleek modern design and well-crafted exhibits, it brings a wide appeal to tourists, families and schools that seek out field trips there. Not to mention its captivity to be a fun date spot as well. So while the Natural History Museum of Utah is by all means an entertaining stroll through history and science, it should not be forgotten that it is first and foremost a place for education.
One of the main parts of the Natural History Museum is its rotating exhibits. On the third floor, right after an engaging walk past halls of fossils and rare minerals, is a double set of doors on the right. Behind those doors is the newest exhibit at the Natural History Museum: Mysteries of the Ice Age.
Entering the Ice Age
Upon entering the exhibit, the first thing of note is the aesthetic. Using white and blue along with smooth surfaces, the exhibit gives a calm, cool feeling. While this is in line with the chilly subject it covers, it also allows for a better sense of relaxation while one is walking from one point of interest to another.
The first section is dedicated to an overview of the ice age, explaining how the ice age cycle works and how that cycle has affected global geography. The next section is perhaps the main draw of the exhibit, as it focuses on what animals and species existed during the ice age. This is brought together with wonderfully realistic models of the animals that lived during the time, along with wooden puppets. There is even a replica of a neanderthal standing in the center, with so much detail behind it that it becomes fascinating to think about how much work went into constructing it.
Next is what Utah was like during the ice age, with an interactive slide show displaying extinct species as well as a time frame showing how the world was shaped by the ice age on a geographic level. The exhibit continues this trend as it focuses on the people who live in modern cold climates and their cultures. Lastly, the exhibit ends on a reminder of how global warming is affecting the climate all around the world.
Interactivity
It would seem that the attraction is also appealing to those who go to the museum. “It’s really cool, pun intended, and I learned a lot about the ice age,” says Joey, a University of Utah student who wanted to see the exhibit due to her appreciation of prehistoric animals, as well as history. “I liked the interactive elements, like the snowflake maker and being close to fossils.”
The interactive parts of the exhibit are perhaps the main draw, as they are all well done. One of the standouts is a section dedicated to showing the difference between modern elephants and mammoths. To show this point, there are two separate blocks that show the varying thickness of their skin, fat and muscles. Better yet, museum goers can touch these to really understand the difference between the two species.
Mysteries Of The Ice Age proves to be a strong addition to the Natural History Museum and a standout amongst its rotating roster. Both educational and interactive, it allows us to look at the past and ruminate on how things had once been. Mysteries of the Ice Age will remain open until January 4, 2025. If you are a student at the University of Utah, you can get into the museum for free if you show your student ID.
