Active both day and night, North American river otters have
a curious and animated nature, entertaining with a wide variety
of sliding, hunting and chasing behaviors, which is sure
to make them one of the most popular exhibits in the new
EcoDiscovery Center. Enjoy the otters’ playful world
from underwater viewing on the first floor or get a top view
from the second floor viewing area.
North American river otters are semi-aquatic mammals and
will entertain visitors while they learn about Florida’s
native mammals. From their whiskers to their webbed feet,
these guys and their warm blooded buddies will help educate
visitors about what it takes to keep ecosystems vibrant and
healthy. Visitors will also learn that otters are very vocal,
and communicate to one another with a large variety of calls,
such as whistles, buzzes, twitters, staccato chuckles and
chirps.
Everglades Airboat Adventure
First Floor
Board the 20-person airboat ride simulator for an amazing
journey into the Everglades without ever leaving the museum!
Leave the bug spray behind as you embark on an adventure
through one of our most cherished national parks. Experience
the twists, turns and stops of in this simulated airboat
ride as you learn about the water, weather, plants and animals
that call these wetlands home.
Supported on a six-point pivot system, this full range of
motion simulator will transport visitors into the heart of
the Everglades for an adventure they won’t soon forget.
An immersive film experience, produced by award winning IMAX
cinematographer James Neihouse, will allow riders to really
get a sense of the ecosystem around them in amazing detail.
Prehistoric Florida First Floor
Step into the mouth of a giant 50 foot megalodon, an
extinct species of shark that lived many millions of years
ago, and
live to tell the tale. Go back in time 65 million years and
get a new perspective on Florida’s prehistoric past
and how it was shaped by climate change and changes in sea
levels. Step into the dig pit to become a paleontologist
and find fossilized shark teeth and an Archelon, the largest
turtle that ever existed.
Get close to a confrontation between a saber-toothed cat
and an Imperial Mammoth and learn how they came to live in
ancient Florida. Find out why evidence of human habitation
has been found far out in the Gulf of Mexico. See how melting
glaciers affect sea level rise; dig through time in simulations
that show the amazing diversity of geology, flora and fauna
that have populated Florida through eons of time and see
your findings projected on giant, animated screens.
Storm Center First Floor
Feel the rush of hurricane force winds in the hurricane simulator or view photos of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Andrew. Be prepared, these forces of nature can be violent and dangerous but here at Storm Center it’s all fascination and interactive fun.
Storm Center offers a chance for museum visitors to touch the vortex of a 10-foot tornado and to generate a cloud or peer into a plasma sphere, representing the state of matter that lights up the sky in the form of lightning. Visitors can simulate their own storm report on TV in the WSVN Weather Studio. For those with a competitive nature, you can compete in an activity to build a sturdy house while a hurricane is approaching and you can tell your own hurricane story to share with other visitors.
Interactives
Power On! Exhibit. Sponsored by FPL, this new exhibit allows Museum visitors to experience electricity in an entirely new way! In this highly interactive animated experience, they can role play as a decision maker “directing” FPL power restoration specialists who are working to restore power safely while also learning how FPL responds to hurricanes.
Hurricane Andrew mini display commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Hurricane Andrew. The exhibit, sponsored by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Florida International University’s International Hurricane Research Center, includes iconic pictures (provided by FIU and Sun Sentinel) of its devastating effects across Miami-Dade County.
Wall Of Wind (WOW) Visitors can construct a house and test its strength against a storm. A monitor in the exhibit will feature video of the real Wall of Wind in action and its effect on different structures and building materials. This exhibit was created in partnership with the Museum of Discovery and Science, the International Hurricane Research Center at FIU with the support of Florida’s Department of Emergency Management.
WSVN Weather Studio: Stand in front of a green screen and give a live weather report.
Create a Cloud: Push down on the ring and create a simulated cloud.
Focused Destruction: Select the strength of tornado you want to create and watch it actually form in front of your eyes.
Plasma Sphere: Lightning is a form of plasma. Place your hand on the sphere. Watch the tendrils of plasma.
Hurricane Game: It’s the house vs. the hurricane! One player builds a house and the other builds a hurricane. Find out if the house is strong enough to withstand the strength of the hurricane.
Tell Your Hurricane Story: Record your real-life hurricane story.
Hurricane Wind Capsule: Step inside the wind capsule, pick a hurricane category, and experience the actual wind strength.
Hurricane Preparedness: Enter the number of family members in your home and how many days you might be without power. Find out what supplies you’ll need to survive.
Florida Water Story First Floor
Know your H2O and learn what this little molecule is made
of and just what it can do. This interactive exhibit not
only explains the importance of water here in Florida but
how it flows and transforms throughout the state from the
aquifers to the air and sea. Learn how aquifers underlie
the state and provide fresh water, and experiment with the
effects of wet and dry seasons on a giant Florida water table.
Interactive devices will challenge guests to divide up Florida’s
water between users such as people, farming and nature and
realize the outcome of their decisions.
Keller Science Theater Second Floor
Science comes to life at the new Keller Science Theater.
Our science shows entertain and educate with demonstrations
of physical and chemical phenomena, live animal shows and
special science presentations. Our well-equipped theater
and enthusiastic, trained staff turn any science topic into
a fun experience of discovery and exploration. The theater
has comfortable seating for up to 100 people, and can support
film presentations, internet based programs, and a variety
of live presentations from community experts.
Mangurian Foundation Lifelong Learning Center Second Floor
The Mangurian Foundation Lifelong Learning Center, located
within the new EcoDiscovery Center, has four fully-equipped
learning labs. The new learning center will enable the Museum
to serve a greater number of students and also provides Museum
staff with additional resources to deliver stimulating educational
programs during student field trips, day camps, or overnight
camp-ins.
Otters
At Play
Step into the mouth of a giant 50 foot megalodon, an
extinct species of shark that lived many millions of years
ago, and
live to tell the tale. Go back in time 65 million years and
get a new perspective on Florida’s prehistoric past
and how it was shaped by climate change and changes in sea
levels. Step into the dig pit to become a paleontologist
and find fossilized shark teeth and an Archelon, the largest
turtle that ever existed.
Storm Center
