Idaho Museum of Natural History is 'exposing' its collections

Since its inception in 1934, the museum has collected, preserved, and saved objects for future generations. Opening June 18, IMNH’s newest exhibit “Exposed: Never Before Seen Wonders” celebrates 82 years of existence and the amazing, weird and extra-large objects in the museum’s collections. In addition, the exhibit highlights some of the people that have made the museum what it is today.

The exhibit includes objects collected by United States presidents; shrunken heads from South America, the first writing system; a moon rock, Rufus, the mammoth excavated near American Falls, and much more.

To celebrate the opening of “Exposed,” the museum will have an Identification Day on June 18 from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants can bring their shells, rocks, insects, feathers, bones, plants and other finds as scientists from anthropology, life sciences and earth sciences will be on-hand to attempt to identify these items.

During Identification Day, children will have an opportunity to dig their own fossil and experience what it takes to be a paleontologist.

Along with “Exposed,” “Ice Age Animals” and “Hungry Planet: What the World Eats” are also on display. Exhibits are updated every three to six months. To see what’s new at IMNH, visit imnh.isu.edu or call (208) 282-3168.

IMNH is open six days a week, Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday noon – 5 p.m. Admission to the museum is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for ISU students with valid ID, $2 for youth 4-17, and children 3 and under are free. The IMNH is proud to a be a Blue Star Museum, which provides free admission to active military and their families from Memorial Day to Labor Day. To learn more about Blue Star visit bluestarfam.org.

IMNH is located at 698 E Dillon St in Pocatello and complimentary parking is provided for patrons in the General Parking Lot 01.