Local Area Spotlight: Anniston Museum of Natural History

The Anniston Musuem is a place not only my kids have grown up, but I did as well as a child. It’s so wonderful getting to see things I loved as a kid, but also all the improvements and new attractions they’ve added over the years. We desperately miss Nature Space but we are BEYOND excited about the new children’s area opening at the end of the month!

Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last admission sold at 4:30 PM; Sunday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with last admission sold at 4:30 PM.

Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children, and ages 0-3 are complementary. Save even more with a Passport ticket that also includes admission to the Berman Museum next door. They also offer memberships that include free admission as well as discounted or free admission to science museums all over the country, including The Imagination Place in Gadsden, the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, and the McWane Center in Birmingham.

A current list of exhibits and galleries are as follows-

Dynamic Earth

Dynamic Earth features life-sized casts of dinosaurs and aquatic reptiles, as well as life-sized Pteranodon and Albertosaurus models. Learn how our prehistoric planet changed over time while exploring a land of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and plate tectonics. A collection of glimmering rocks and minerals will dazzle visitors. Discover how wind and water continue to change our planet. Venture through a realistic reproduction of an Alabama cave.

Alabama: Sand to Cedars

While exploring this exhibit hall, visitors will travel through limestone ridges and sparkling rivers, and visit the steamy swamps and sandy coastline of Alabama. See the plants and animals that make Alabama one of the most biologically diverse states. Alabama: Sand to Cedars features a 350-gallon freshwater aquarium and 250-gallon saltwater aquarium. Catch a glimpse of an 11-foot alligator.

Attack & Defense

Sharp claws and pointed fangs are only two of the many ways animals hunt and protect themselves. Attack and Defense explores the relationships and roles of predators and prey. Discover who scares bears and why opossums “play dead.” Come face-to-face with live snakes and discover the ways they hide in plain sight. This exhibit hall features a polar bear on the Arctic tundra, an American bison bull, and mountain goats tiptoeing across a mountain cliff.

Regar Memorial Hall

The ornithological collection of William H. Werner, showcased in Regar Memorial Hall, contains the oldest bird dioramas in the United States. More than 400 bird species are in life-like poses and settings. Learn all about avian adaptations and then find out if you are as fast as a bird on our reflex interactive. This exhibit hall contains endangered and extinct birds such as the passenger pigeon, the ivory-billed woodpecker, and the Carolina parakeet.

Environments of Africa

Immerse yourself in the African savanna without ever leaving Anniston in the Environments of Africa. Greet some of the world’s largest mammals, consider the African baobab tree’s immense size, and pose for a picture with an elephant enjoying his snack! Guests will wander through the Chad desert, the lush rainforest, and marshy wetlands in this incredible exhibit hall.

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians revered their natural environment and developed a belief system that lasted more than 3,000 years. Discover why animals such as jackals, ibises, and falcons played a significant role in their culture. Pay respects to our 2,300-year-old Ptolemaic (Greek-era) mummies and discover the intricate steps of mummification. Take a deep breath and enjoy the scents of frankincense, myrrh, and other fragrances used in this process. Enjoy a short film about our smaller mummy’s (Tasherytpamenekh) journey through CT scans and X-rays. Before you leave, come face-to-face with a bust of Tasherytpamenekh and discover how she may have looked in life.

COMING SOON: Force Factory

Force Factory is the Anniston Museum of Natural History’s newly designed hands-on discovery exhibit. We will introduce our youngest patrons to how these forces affect the natural world, how to protect life from nature’s power, and its importance to the development of life. Through moving imagery, hands-on activities, and interactive experiences, Force Factory will demonstrate how interconnected these natural forces are.

Outside you’ll find beautiful paths with tons of plants and a large koi pond.

Behind the museum is the Birds of Pray trail where you can make your way around and see various live birds such as barn owls and hawks.

Parking is free and attached to the museum. On especially busy days there is additional parking areas available across the road.

Restrooms are available at the front of the museum and we recommend taking advantage before you go into the museum so you aren’t having to make your way through or back during your visit. The museum comes around in a full circle ending at the Boba Tree Store.

There are no concessions on site and no food or drinks are allowed in the exhibit halls.

There is a museum store at the end of the exhibit halls that has all sorts of items to complete your trip, including shirts, books, toys, snacks, our favorite- the bags of rocks, and other educational memorabilia.

We highly recommend you follow the calendar on their website as they keep it updated and have a very busy schedule with tons of classes, homeschool days, activities, creature features, and more. We also keep up with their family and children events on our calendars and web page!

Follow Calhoun County Mom for more free and affordable places to visit in Calhoun County and surrounding areas!

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