Snakes and chameleons and turtles and more! Reptiles: LIVE!

photo courtesy of pixaabay.com

by Janet Jonus

Catch Reptiles: LIVE! at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History from October 20th through May 12, 2019.

Have you ever wondered how a chameleon changes its colors? Do you know which snakes are poisonous to humans and which ones aren’t? Do you know what crocodile skin feels like? Find the answers to all of these questions and more at Reptiles: LIVE! the new exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

The highlight of the exhibit is 19 “Living Dioramas” housing reptiles from all around the world. “Families will find themselves eye to eye with living crocodiles, turtles, snakes, and lizards in this interactive exhibition about reptiles,” says Becca Shreckengast, Director of Exhibit Experience at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in a press release announcing the new exhibit.

There a many interactive activities as well. Climb on a life-size replica of a Galapagos Turtle Shell. Touch the skins of reptiles including crocodiles, lizards, turtles, and snakes. Play reptile trivia games including The Shell Game, Lizard Wizard, and Best Foot Forward.

See the Living Collection in a live show every day at 215PM (with an additional show on Thursdays at 630PM). Meet the reptiles up close with a reptile specialist. Learn about the reptiles that live around us. Get answers from a reptile expert.

“We are very excited to offer this interactive and educational exhibition to the greater Pittsburgh community,” says Mallory Vopal, Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning in a press release announcing the exhibit. “Whether you are a seasoned reptile enthusiast or simply a lover of animals, this is a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn something new while visiting fascinating reptilian friends from around the world. In addition to the 19 animals on display, the museum will also be offering live reptile meet and greets daily in the exhibit space for visitors to get an up-close experience.”

The Reptiles: LIVE! exhibit opens at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History on October 20th. Reptiles: LIVE! costs $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children, seniors, and member IN ADDITION to regular Museum admission. Admission to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors 65+, $11.95 for children 3-18 and students with a valid school ID, and free for children 2 and under. Admission discounts can be found here: https://carnegiemnh.org/visitor/visit-carnegie-museum-of-natural-history/

If you are looking for more Reptiles: LIVE!, the Museum offers sleepovers, birthday parties, and field trips. For more information, look here: https://carnegiemnh.org/visitor/reptiles-live/

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is a FamilyFun favorite. Children love the Dinosaur Hall where families will find the always popular Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit. With over 170 original fossils and numerous complete dinosaur skeletons in their natural environment, this exhibit is the “crown jewel” of the Museum. Children 10 and under can dig for bones in the nearby Bone Hunters Quarry.

The Walton Hall of Ancient Egypt houses the Museum’s Egyptian collection including a mummy. Most of the artifacts are from middle class Egyptians, providing a fascinating look at their lives.

The Alcoa Foundation Hall of American Indians explores four distinct Native American cultures.

The Bird Hall, the Hall of North American Wildlife, and Polar World contain specimens from each of these habitats.

Mammoths and their friends dominate the Age of Mammals: The Cenozoic Era. The Cretaceous Seaway has fossils from the animals that ruled the Seas in the time of the Dinosaurs.

Botany Hall contains dioramas of plants from the four major Biomes of the United States and the Amphibians and Reptiles Exhibit has live specimens.

The Benedum Hall of Geology covers the geological history of the Pittsburgh area as well as geological studies of fossils. There are also gems and dioramas on display.

The Museum has a gift shop and two places to eat – Fossil Fuels with soup sandwiches salads, baked goods, and kid-friendly eats and the more elegant and expensive Café Carnegie.

The Carnegie Museum of Art and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History are open daily from 1000AM – 500PM with late hours on Thursdays when the Museum is open until 800PM.

There is parking behind the Museums. Details can be found here: https://carnegiemnh.org/visitor/visit-carnegie-museum-of-natural-history/

Port Authority routes 58, 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 67, and 69 all stop at Forbes and Bigelow, near the Carnegie.

The Carnegie Museums are located at 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15213 / 412-622-3131 / https://carnegiemnh.org