The Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution
1259 Trumansburg Road (Rt. 96)
Ithaca, NY  14850

 Phone:  (607) 273-6623

www.museumoftheearth.org

 

The Museum of the Earth is...

• A public natural history exhibit facility for one of the nation's largest and finest fossil collections
• A major new tourist attraction and source of economic development in Tompkins County and New York's southern tier.
• An educational facility that stresses the interdependence of the Earth and its life, fostering greater public understanding of the environment, its history, and its future.
• An important new resource for teachers and students across central New York State for improving science teaching and learning.

Exhibits at the Museum of the Earth

The Museum of the Earth showcases a wide selection of fossils from the collection of the Paleontological Research Institution, which contains over 2 million specimens; from the tiniest of microfossils to the giants of the Ice Age, you can see it in the Museum. These relics of the past illuminate the ever-changing history of life on earth. Ninety nine percent of Earth’s history passed before anything resembling a human was there to witness it. The Museum’s interactive, creative exhibits present ancient tales and offer clues to what the Earth’s future might hold.

Education at the Museum of the Earth
The education department at the Museum of the Earth at PRI aims to make the history of Earth and its life—and the science by which we understand it—accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. To reach this goal we offer a wide variety of programs, lectures, and field trips to public and private audiences.
Programs and exhibit hall tours are an ideal way to enrich your classes’ field trip experience. At the Museum of the Earth, hands-on educational programs emphasize science as a process of inquiry and exploration.
The Museum also offers resources for teachers. Educator Workshops provide professional training for educators of all grade levels. Our workshops will increase educators’ knowledge of Earth science principles and help them develop confidence with inquiry-based teaching.