The Delaware Museum of Natural History officially becomes the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science in January 2022, and we are planning for our reopening in May. As part of the museum’s metamorphosis, we are proud to introduce our new brandmark. Inspired by the Nautilus spiral, a symbol with many meanings, our new logo [...]
What came first, the chicken or the egg? Eggs were around long before there were chickens. In addition to birds, mollusks, fish, insects, frogs, reptiles, and even some mammals lay eggs. These mammals are known as monotremes. The closest living relatives of birds include crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and turtles, all of which lay [...]
Among the dramatic taxidermy appearing in the new Museum galleries is a Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus). The bear will stand on a model iceberg in the Arctic tundra exhibit as part of the Global Journey Gallery. Currently in storage in the Collections & Research Division, the specimen needed to be removed from its stand and [...]
Dinosaurs are among all the things that spark a child's imagination and curiosity the most. For decades, the Delaware Museum of Natural History's dinosaurs have fascinated thousands of children (and adults too). This year, we're closed for major renovations to our galleries. When the Museum reopens in 2022, the Delaware Museum of [...]
Museum Metamorphosis: Exhibit Deinstallation and Demolition After the taxidermy was removed, demolition started. In January, Museum staff along with additional conservators removed taxidermy from exhibits to temporary storage. These photos were taken during the process. The lion sleeps tonight [...]
Shell shock: Collectors help the Museum crack the case of a missing specimen Forty-seven years ago, celebrated shell collector Jack Lightbourn hauled a new species up with his large catch of mollusks off the coast of Bermuda. The prime sample of the species, later named C. lightbourni, was sent to [...]
Matt reads today's Wonders of Winter story, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. Behind Matt is our Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), one of the most distinctive birds in the Delaware forest. Owls are excellent night hunters. Their large eyes, flexible necks, and excellent hearing make them especially good at locating prey, usually mice, shrews, [...]
Spreading Our Wings for Nature and Science Education at the Museum, in our community, and online In 2019, DMNH delivered education programs to 19,319 individuals, including 9,341 underserved students who received programming free or at a discount. When the pandemic hit, we reorganized PreK-16 activities. Story times, live animal presentations, nature crafts, [...]
Delaware Shells Razor clams, shark eyes, knobby conchs … do you know your Delaware shells? Take a look at some local examples from the Museum’s collection of more than two million shells. Use this guide to identify shells for your own collection! Many hobbyists enjoy picking up nature’s curios on the beach for home [...]
The Museum's Animal Ambassadors What would you expect to see at the Delaware Museum of Natural History? What about a live ball python or sun conure? Many visitors to DMNH are surprised to see live animals in a natural history museum, but they are there for an important reason. Encounters with live animals [...]
