The Museum of the Earth was a total find! My budding paleontologist thought he had died and gone to heaven. This little-known museum located in Ithaca is completely dedicated to Paleontology. The Museum of the Earth is extremely kid-friendly and strives to make learning as fun and hands-on as possible. Kids love dinosaurs, and this museum delivers just what they want. Not only dinosaurs but later periods in the evolution of the earth as well as the ocean.
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Exhibits
Several permanent exhibits make up the Museum of the Earth: Amelia the Quetzalcoatlus, Steggy the Stegosaurus, Glacier exhibit, Rock of Ages Sands of Time, Right Whale #2030, Journey Through Time, Coral Reef Aquaria, Discovery Labs, and Hype Park Mastodon.
There are also regularly changing exhibits.
The Fossil Lab
My kids especially loved the Fossil Lab, where there are all sorts of hands-on activities. However, their favorite was where they were able to search for, identify, and keep any fossils that they found. The entire museum really captivated them. Even my oldest, who is in her late teens, really enjoyed the Museum of the Earth and got a lot out of the trip. She took endless pictures and loved all the hands-on exhibits as much as her little brother. Both times we visited this museum, it wasn’t crowded at all, which is a little sad considering all that this wonderful place has to offer.
My oldest loves this museum so much that now that she is a student at Ithaca College, every time they have “pay what you can afford days” (Yes, this is a real thing… I think they have the college students in mind when they run these promotions.) She and her roommates make a beeline for this museum.
The Dino Zone
This area is a fun place for kids to cut loose and enjoy themselves in a dino-themed play area. There are puppets, toys, a dig site, costumes, and life-size dino eggs. Kids can let their imaginations run wild here while parents catch their breath.
Bee Exhibit
Bees play an extremely important role in our ecosystem. Take a fascinating look at bees and how they impact our world. I personally never realized how different species of bees there are in the world.
Hours and Admission
The Museum of the Earth is well worth a trip to Ithaca and the price of admission. It is totally family-friendly and kids will have hours of educational entertainment. The museum had lots of educational brochures placed in the different exhibits. My son, fascinated by the museum, made sure to get one of each.
Helpful link: http://www.museumoftheearth.org
Hours:
| Summer Hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day) | Thursday -Monday: 10 am – 5 pm Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays |
| Winter Hours (Labor Day through Memorial Day) | Thu – Mon: 10 am – 5 pm Tue-Wed: Closed |
| Holiday Hours | The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. We will be open 10 am – 5 pm from December 26 – December 30. |
Address
1259 Trumansburg Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
Google Map Link
Have you visited this museum? Do you know of other dinosaur-themed attractions in New York State? We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.