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Every time visitors came to the museum this year, there was something
new to see and do. And its all still waiting for you!
At Dinosaur Hall
Everyones favorite robotic tour guide”Chips”–leads the way after
you
ask the questions that send him searching among the dinosaurs for answers.
Now, students can even communicate with Chips from their classroom at schoola
real-time educational adventure via the Internet. Ask your science teacher
about taking a virtual field trip to the museum!
This hall is more sensational than ever. Quetzalcoatlus northropi
, the largest flying dinosaur of all time, soars high above its earth-bound
reptilian companions. Want to know how a dinosaur expert handles fossils?
You can look over the shoulder of a paleontological preparator at work
right in the hall. And every hour, the entire hall comes alive with sound
and light. A professionally produced multi-media showthe first of its
kind in a museum dinosaur exhibitdisplays the Carnegie dinosaurs in all
their glory and creates the illusion that the beasts are moving within
the room.
And dont forget to visit Dippy! “Dippy” showed up in July and quickly
become a Pittsburgh landmark. Just in time for the turn of the millennium,
the museum unveiled this giant tribute to its most famous exhibit–a full-scale
replica of Diplodicus carnegii right outside the museum.
“Whats New on the Earth” opened this fall, an exhibit thats
always changing, just like the earth. Each and every day, breaking news
about earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and weather formations is delivered
at this fast-paced, electronic exhibit. A video wall broadcasts the latest
and greatest scientific news via Discovery Channel and other news sources.
Hands-on and interactive, the new exhibit provides a real-time update on
world-wide seismic activity, as well as oceanic and meteorological data.
Pennsylvania geology is also highlighted, including a multi-media look
at the geologic events that shaped our regions rivers, hills and forests.
Making News in 99
Carnegie Museum of Natural History is making news, not just reporting
it. Our scientists do groundbreaking work that helps to put together the
puzzle of evolution and prehistoric life.
In 1999, Carnegie paleontologist Luo Zhexi and his colleagues explained
the evolutionary significance of a now-extinct Mesozoic mammal whose skeleton
was found in the “Feathered Dinosaur” excavation site in China. Luo and
colleagues concluded that the triconodont was indeed capable of walkinga
fact that shows a more complex evolution of mammals than was previously
thought.
Luos work was the subject of media coverage in more than 22 countries.
The Discovery Channel came to the museum to meet Dr. Luo and to learn more
about our outstanding dinosaur collection. Chips, the robotic tour guide
in Dinosaur Hall, and dinosaur artists Mark Klingler and Michael Skrepnick
were also featured. Alan Alda, host of Scientific American Frontiers, also
came to the museum in 1999 to film a segment on the museums use of interactive
robots and other high tech approaches to museum education.
Bugbot, an amazing new exhibit on the first floor, allows you to see the
world from the viewpoint of an insect. A state-of-the-art miniature robotic
camera is mounted inside a colony of scorpions. A joystick maneuvers Bugbot
around the cockroaches museum homea 12 x 24″ aquarium. An enlarged image
of the live roaches is projected on a screen, allowing the human viewer
to see the world as these insects do. Bugbot is a product of a partnership
between Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the Toy Robotics Institute
at Carnegie Mellon University, in conjunction with the Human-Computer Interaction
Institute.
Plus
a new place to snack”Fossil Fuels Refreshments”designed for young earthlings
and their parents.
an ancient Egyptian tomb, and
a space shuttle in “Earth Revealed”
And Dont Miss
Carnegie Lectures on Environmental Change
An exciting series from Sepember through May explores our changing
global environment. Museum of Art Theater, the second Monday of each month,
7:00-830pm.
November: E. Brown-Weiss: International law and global environmental
change
December:
An Inuit Carver in Polar World
November 6, noon to 2:00 pm.
Camilla, the talented daughter of a famous sculptor, demonstrates
traditional Inuit carving techniques. Part of a large and loving family,
her gently rounded forms of mother and child, father and son, and animals
like the musk ox, are sought after by collectors of Inuit art around the
world.
Planet Golf
Be sure to set aside time to tee off at Planet Golf, a traveling exhibit
that departs the museum on January 2., 2000. Planet Golf is a playful miniature
golf course that takes you on a fun-filled adventure through the natural
world. For a modest $2.00 “greens fee,” you can putt through a indoor,
18-hole miniature golf course. Youll not only sharpen your golf game,
but will learn about butterfly metamorphosis, recycling, water pollution,
dinosaur extinction and other aspects of the earths history and environment.
Players face a variety of challenging obstacles. A great holiday activity
for kids.
Bigger and Better in 2000
From Pow-Wow to Wow!
Year 2000 Carnegie Lectures on Environmental Change
The popular lecture series continues in with talks about Detecting
Climate Change, Defining “Sustainability,” Vector-borne Diseases, and other
vital environmental issues.
Pow-Wow
May
The Council of the Three Rivers American Indian Center will present
its third annual powwow, a traditional ceremony of dance and song in May.
This special event, which highlights the museums Alcoa Foundation Hall
of American Indians, is an exciting outdoor activity celebrating the culture
of American Indian tribes. Mark your calendar now for this weekend of traditional
song, dance, arts, crafts and food.
More Dinosaurs!
A new exhibit scheduled for the Changing Exhibits Gallery next summer,
“T. Rex on Trial,” throws out a big question: Was T. Rex a ferocious hunter
or a scavenger? We provide compelling evidence for both sides. You decide.
Carnegie Gem and Mineral Show
August
The Carnegie Gem and Mineral Show is one of the premier shows of its type
in the nation. Now in its third year, the Gem and Mineral Show . This past
August, more than 5000 visitors came to Oakland during this event. Many
people admired, bid for, and bought gems and jewelry during the three-day
event. For young rockhounds, there were fun, hands-on activities. Curator
Marc Wilson and his team of volunteers are planning a spectacular event
for 2000.
Preservation Fair
October
The museum will once again offer the public an opportunity to learn how
to save old photos, documents and other personal treasures. This day-long
event showcases basic conservation techniques taught by experts. You are
invited to bring in items for preservation advice.
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E-mail: carnegiemag@carnegiemuseums.org
