
Welcome
to the Mammal Family Reunion!
Come
meet your relatives.
The newly opened
Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals invites visitors
to explore the incredible diversity of mammals, including
humans, and the processes by which they arose and continue
to adapt. Featuring 274 exciting taxidermied mounts and a
dozen mammal fossils in a variety of environments—from
polar to desert regions and from dry to humid environments—the
exhibit tells the story of mammal evolution through adaptation
to changing habitats. This message is reinforced throughout
- “You are a mammal; meet your relatives, past and present;
all mammals evolved from a common ancestor and share common
characteristics; as the world changed, mammals became more
diverse; come find out how.”
Located in the
museum’s restored west wing, this permanent, 25,000-square-foot
interactive hall sets a new standard for museum biology halls
in both content and design, by combining a passionate and
detailed commitment to scholarship with fresh interpretive
approaches custom-designed to meet the needs of our primary
visitor audience - Families. The new hall is set within a
dramatic and well-lit space that has been fully restored to
its original Beaux Arts architectural intent.
Click on the images
below to see pictures from the exhibit.