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Fernbank Museum of Natural History, photo by Daniel Mayer.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Fernbank Museum

Fernbank Museum opened its doors to the public on October 5, 1992, featuring a variety of exciting permanent exhibitions, a selection of traveling exhibits and unique science programming. However its origin is traced to the late 1800s when a young woman led the preservation of 65 acres of forest in the shadows of city expansion and neighbourhood development.

Emily Harrison’s vision still thrives through the conservation work and science education of Fernbank Museum. Today, at 65 acres, Fernbank Forest is the largest old-growth urban Piedmont forest in the country. One of her favourite places in the forest was a creek bank covered with ferns, which she named Fernbank.  

Harrison always wanted to maintain the forest as a school in the woods for nature study and In 1939, together with Dr. Woolford Baker, a biologist at Emory University, they led a group of 15  environmentalists to establish Fernbank as a non-profit with the intent to purchase and preserve the 65 acres of old-growth woodlands. Here are top 10 interesting facts about Fernbank museum.

1.The concept of the Fernbank Museum grew out of the forest

Fernbank Museum is the only natural history museum to grow out of a forest. Its origin is traced to the late 1800s when a young woman, Emily Harrison, led the preservation of 65 acres of forest in the shadows of city expansion and neighbourhood development. One of her favourite places in the forest was a creek bank covered with ferns, which she named Fernbank.  

The museum was built along the border of the forest to preserve the integrity of the undisturbed woodlands, Fernbank Museum officially opened to the public on October 5, 1992. Emily Harrison’s vision still thrives through the conservation work and science education of Fernbank Museum.

2.Fernbank’s accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums is a non-profit association that brings together all museums in order to develop proper standards and rules advocating on issues of concern to the museum community.

Such recognition has only been awarded to fewer than 5 per cent of museums nationwide. Fernbank first received accreditation in 2003 and all Museums are able to apply for accreditation after 10 years of operation.

3.It is the first museum to display the world’s largest dinosaurs

Giganotosaurus skeleton, photo by Jonathan Chen.

Fernbank officially became the first museum to display the world’s largest dinosaurs in the permanent exhibition Giants of the Mesozoic in 2001. The museum offers an exhibition that recreates life in the bad lands of Patagonia, Argentina, where the largest dinosaurs in the world were unearthed.

In addition, Fernbank added a Dinosaur Plaza near the museum’s entrance, offering the first-ever recreation of Lophorhothon atopus with three bronze dinosaur statues in 2009. 10 years later, Fernbank welcomed Fantastic Forces, a STEM exhibit featuring over 10 different science-themed stations for all ages.

4.The museum has won several awards

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on

Fernbank has won many awards throughout its history. Top awards include the Best Museum in Atlanta, Top 10 Museum for Dinosaurs in the World, Best Family Attraction, Best School Field Trip, and more. Recently, in July 2020, Smithsonian Magazine recommended Fernbank as one of top Seven Places to Get Outside for the summer.

5.It has a revolutionary Children’s exhibition Program

In 2011, Fernbank Museum opened Fernbank Nature Quest, a revolutionary children’s exhibition that explores habitats in the natural world. Young visitors have the privilege to enjoy such exhibits from teenagers to pre-schoolers. Pre-schoolers enjoy Tadpole Tales that entails storytelling and an activity led by a Fernbank educator.

6.It has a state-of-the-art laser projection system that makes films come to life

The giant screen theatre has an incredible view with an immersive 4-story screen. It offers 25 minute and 45 minute movies and swaps out different movies throughout the year. The movies mostly relate to the current exhibit. Most importantly, state-of-the-art 4K laser projection system with both 2D and 3D capabilities makes science-based films come to life.

7.Special Exhibits of habitats and artefacts

Wildwoods outdoors explores the stories and science of habitats of the plants, animals, and humans. The museum has an elevated walkway that takes guests on an voyage of the different habitats found around the world. The guest also get the chance to learn the importance of preserving the natural communities through large-scale sculptures of animals, nests, flowers and more, created in partnership with local artists.

Among the special exhibition is the The St. Catherines Island Foundation and Edward John Noble Foundation Collection. The collection includes more than one million Native American and European artefacts from Mission Santa Catalina de Guale, which was established on St. Catherine’s Island in the 16th century. Fernbank museum was requested to house this collection in 2004.

8.Permanent Exhibition of the Giants of the Mesozoic

Giants of the Mesozoic, photo by Jeremy Thompson.

Fernbank museum displays exhibits from giant dinosaurs to creatures of the deep and their habitats and other artefacts. Every exhibit in the museum includes larger-than-life displays to create an uniquely wonderful experience for the kids and adults. Among the greatest exhibition is the Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit.

Visitors are able to observe exhibitions that recreate life in the bad lands of Patagonia, Argentina, where the largest dinosaurs in the world were unearthed. Tourists can also observe the interaction between the four reptiles from the Cretaceous period of 145- 65 million years ago, as well as other creatures.

9.The museum initiated an archaeological research program

Main sign in front of science center, photo by Eoghanacht.

In the year 2006, Fernbank museum began an archaeology research program in Telfair County. The research program led to the discovery of crucial artefacts from the 15th-century. The artefacts were traced to Hernando de Soto who was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. Fernbank’s research has received international attention and garnered the support of the National Geographic Society.

10.The museum offers breath-taking walking trails at WildWoods

Wildwood is the newest outdoor expansion that features several areas to explore and elements for kids of all ages to enjoy from teenagers to pre-schoolers.  This expansion took place in September 2016. Fernbank expanded the museum to the outdoors with 75-acres of nature education and science adventures in Fernbank Forest and WildWoods with breath-taking walking trails, a canopy walk, native wildlife and nature playgrounds

Visitors can climb and play on rope bridges, hide in underground passageways and gain a bird’s-eye view from the treetop pods. Young kids are able to meet birds, butterflies and go nature-viewing from the elevated walkways and stroller-friendly walking trails.

Fernbank Museum is indeed a beautiful and incredible natural history museum. From a rich origin the museum holds a lot of history and an element of the conservation of the forest and the environment. The museum keeps attracting visitors from all over the country including international visitors and the numbers keep growing.