Denver Museum of Nature and Science

When I moved to Denver, this museum was called the Denver Natural HistoryMuseum. It was always a great place to take the kids because of its “geewhiz” exhibits of huge, prehistoric dinosaurs, American Indian life, insectsand and birds and animals of Colorado, as well as its Gates Planetarium.

Since then, the museum has morphed into the Denver Museum of Nature and Sciencewith more space, new exhibits, an improved planetarium, and an iIMAX Theater.

Some of the exhibits are permanent, others are called current exhibitions,meaning that they are here for just a limited time. The permanent expeditionsinclude:

Coors Gem and Mineral Hall
Egyptian Mummies
Hall of Life
North American Indian Cultures
Prehistoric Journey
Space Odyssey
Wildlife Exhibits

The next touring exhibition begins March 10and runs through July 23. It is a fascinating – but not for the faint of heart – exhibition called “Body Worlds: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies.” This exhibition, which features more than 200 real human specimens, was created by Dr. Gunther Von Hagens using a process called Plastination to preserve anatomical specimens. This technology allows bodies to be saved in a durable and lifelike fashion for instruction and education, giving you an opportunity to appreciate what it really means to be human.

The Gates Planetarium
The Museum's Gates Planetarium is currently showing “Passport to the Universe,” “SonicVision – How Do You See Your Music,” “A Cosmic Journey,” and “The Search for Life – Are We Alone?” Beginning Feb. 10 is a presentation titled “Black Holes --- The Other Side of the Universe.” These presentations are just awesome and provide a view of space and the universe that is really hard to comprehend until you've seen it.

IMAX
If you've never had the IMAX Experience, this is definitely a “must see.” Regardless of the subject, the four-and-a-half-story-tall IMAX screen fills your eye with crisp, vivid images, and the theater’s 58 speakers surround you with clear digital sound, giving you the feeling of being immersed in the action you see on screen without ever having to leave the comfort of your seat. The film used in the IMAX projector is four times larger than standard 35 mm movie film, so it delivers a superior picture. It also requires some special handling. A typical IMAX film is delivered on a four-foot-wide horizontal platter and weighs about 250 pounds. It takes nearly two-and-a-half miles of film for a 45-minute IMAX movie.

Just as with any theater, IMAX films change periodically. For example, the film “Wired to Win – Surviving the Tour De France” began on March 3 and will run for several months. The best way to learn what film will be playing when you're in Denver is to wait until a few days before your trip and then click on this link.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science
2001 Colorado Boulevard
303.322.7009

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