Idaho Museum of Natural History features new exhibits

The Idaho Museum of Natural History on the Idaho State University campus reopened it's exhibit area – with a variety of new and familiar displays – on Saturday, Dec. 4.

"We will have whole exhibits of collections we've never had on display before but we've kept some of our most popular and informative exhibits," said Herb Maschner, museum interim director.

The Museum debuted everything from Ice Age animal mounts to an exhibit on how climate change on the Snake River Plain has affected its plant and animal life.

Other new exhibits and displays include doll cradleboards and moccasins from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes; fossilized dinosaur trackways in stone from three samples found Southeast Idaho; a new geology of Idaho education exhibit; and an exhibit highlighting Museum research on finding the source of obsidian artifacts. There are other new displays planned as well.

"We are looking forward to interacting with all of our audiences again," said Rebecca Thorne-Ferrel, museum curator and educator. "We've missed them as much as they've missed us, and we're excited about the new exhibits we have to offer." The museum will again offer tours to school groups and other interested parties.

The Idaho Museum of Natural History's new hours beginning Dec. 4 will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. The Museum Store will be open during the same hours.

The Idaho Museum of Natural History is the State of Idaho's official museum for life sciences– the plants, animals, and environments of Idaho; anthropology and archaeology– the indigenous and past peoples and cultures of Idaho, the earth sciences —the paleontology, geology, and landscape history of Idaho, and natural history education.

For more information, call (208) 282-3168 or visit http://imnh.isu.edu/.

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