Denver Museum of Nature & Science revamps popular exhibit

May 1, 2024, 4:28 PM | Updated: May 2, 2024, 10:30 am

KOSI 101.1

An exhibit that showcases life from up to 3.5 billion years ago just got a prehistoric makeover.

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has been in the process of upgrading its “Prehistoric Journey” exhibit for over two years, and the wait is over. Visitors are now see the finalized updates on display.

The changes include advanced lighting controllers, electrical upgrades to the dinosaur creekbed and new dynamic lighting. The latter will allow viewers to see the entire cycle of a day in three-and-a-half minutes.

In a post on social media, the museum detailed the upgrades and what they seek to accomplish: “Through meticulous electrical upgrades, advanced lighting controllers, and, most notably, a dynamic new lighting installation, we’ve reimagined the experience of this ancient landscape. The new system simulates an entire day’s cycle in just three and one half minutes. Guests may imagine feeling the warmth of the sun as it arcs across the ‘sky’, witness the play of light and shadow, and be enveloped in the hues of sunset before the stars take over the night.”

The exhibit features ancient seas, ancient plants, fossils, dinosaurs, the first mammals and the dawn of the human family. According to the museum’s website, the exhibit opened in 1990, with 75 percent of its fossils having come through the museum’s Earth Sciences Lab, which is run by 125 employees.

The museum invited patrons to “rediscover a familiar space that’s been transformed through innovation and collaboration—the ‘Prehistoric Journey’ Creekbed. This upgrade is the culmination of a two-year journey, a testament to the dedication and combined efforts of various teams across our Museum.”

See the exhibit during one of its remaining free days, noted below: