During your visit to this Hays, Kansas attraction, explore permanent and temporary exhibits related to the Earth’s natural history and the evolutionary forces that affect it. Be sure to stop by the Excavations Gift Shop, carrying a wide variety of gift items and souvenirs.
Exhibits
A Fossil Treasure Trove
Start your visit to Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Fossil Treasure Trove. Here you can join George Sternberg as he excavates one of his most famous fossil finds, the Fish-within-a-Fish. Sternberg discovered this 14-foot Xiphactinus in 1952 with its final meal, a six-foot Gillicus, preserved within its ribcage. Next to the specimen, videos taken during the original excavation help tell the story of the amazing fossil. Additional exhibits feature fossils from the age of the dinosaurs including marine reptiles, toothed birds and giant clams. In the demonstration lab, you can watch fossil preparation or learn about ongoing research at the facility.
Step Back in Time
Step back in time as you make your way into the depths of a cave in the replicated chalk cliffs and find yourself immersed in the watery world of the chalk. Warm seas surrounding caves such as these were once teeming with sharks, real life sea serpents and monstrous predatory fish. On the exhibit’s subtropical shore, wander the lush vegetation among life-sized animated dinosaurs and other ancient creatures as huge flying reptiles soar overhead.
Evolving Grasslands
The uplifted subtropical forests eventually gave way to evolving grassland. During this time a variety of animals such as horses, camels, rhinoceroses, sabre-toothed cats, mammoths, mastodons, and giant beavers inhabited the lands. Learn about these animals and the scientific principles and research techniques used to study them in Evolving Grasslands.
Modern Analogues
Journey to the South African bush in Modern Analogues. This exhibit recounts an actual ecotourism and photo safari led by Jerry Choate, former museum director.
Sternberg Museum of Natural History’s Excavations Gift Shop carries unique gift items and souvenirs for everyone. T-shirts, jewelry, plush toys, puzzles, games, posters, rocks, minerals and home décor are available to purchase. Excavations Gift Shop also boasts a book collection that covers a wide range of topics including palaeontology, science, natural history, Kansas history, regional history and a special assortment of books that presents an in-depth view of the fossils exhibited by the museum and the Sternberg family of fossil hunters who found them. Additionally, the Gift Shop carries works of art by local artists including hand carved wooden duck decoys by Dr. Eugene Fleharty, pheasant feather ornaments made by Barbara Huber and woven-wheat hangings handmade by Kansa artists.
Travel Tip
- Sternberg Museum of Natural History is ADA compliant. Complimentary wheelchairs are available for use from the admissions desk.