School is out for the summer! For kids, it’s the best part of the year. For parents … not so much. For any Hoosier looking for kid-friendly entertainment, the Indian State Museum’s reimagined Ancient Seas exhibit opens June 8.
The exhibit centers around the fossils of ancient organisms that lived in the forests and waters of Indiana, featuring colorful light features, full replications of organisms and digital interactives. The new –and improved exhibit will also include nearly 200 fossils from the museum’s collection and hands-on activities like building a marine animal or smelling simulated shark vomit.
A staple at the museum since 2002, the refurbished exhibit will place visitors directly at the center of history. Immersive technology offers an interactive experience with additional digital and sensory activities for kids of all ages.
Brian Mancuso, the chief officer of engagement for the Indiana State Museum, is eager for visitors to see how the state’s environment has changed over the past millions of years.
“It will look pretty alien, but it is still Indiana,” Mancuso said.
The exhibit will be on the first floor of the museum and feature giant sea creatures and blue panels hanging overhead. In the center of the exhibit, visitors can participate in an immersive face-to-face viewing of extinct species like the “sea scorpion.”
“You can bring the fossils back to life and watch how the animals moved in their natural environment,” Mancuso said.
Ancient Seas is included with museum admission, which is $20 for adults, $14 for youth (ages 3-17) and $18 for seniors. Visitors can go to IndianaMuseum.org to learn more and save on admission by purchasing tickets in advance.
Contact Staff Writer Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
