Fernbank Museum of Natural History

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FAQs

Q. Are Fernbank Museum of Natural History and Fernbank Science Center the same thing?
A. No. Fernbank Museum of Natural History and Fernbank Science Center are separate organizations. Fernbank Museum is a private, not-for-profit organization that often works closely with Fernbank Science Center, a unit of the DeKalb County School System.

Q. When did Fernbank Museum open?
A. Fernbank Museum opened October 5, 1992.

Q. Where is the IMAX® Theatre?
A. The Rankin M. Smith, Sr. IMAX® Theatre is located within Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

Q. What is an IMAX® film?
A. IMAX® films use the largest film format in the world, providing an image three to ten times larger than standard films. Fernbank’s IMAX® screen is five stories high and 72-feet-wide.

Q. How big are the dinosaurs on view in Giants of the Mesozoic?
Giants of the Mesozoic features the world’s largest dinosaurs. This unique exhibition recreates a snapshot of what life was like 90-100 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period. Fernbank held the grand opening of this exciting exhibition on August 25, 2001, showcasing the world’s largest meat-eater, the 47-foot-long Giganotosaurus, as it prepares to make a meal out of the largest dinosaur ever discovered, the 123-foot-long plant-eating Argentinosaurus.

Also featured in the exhibition are two species of pterosaurs, or flying reptiles. Twenty-four in all, the pterosaurs are shown reacting to the scene below. The terrain-like rockwork includes fossils of other animals and plants that thrived during this time period, such as a prehistoric frog, crocodile and Auracaria tree, along with dinosaur tracks.

Q. Giganotosaurus looks a lot like T. rex. What’s the difference?
A. Although these giant meat-eaters look similar, they are actually on different branches of the dinosaur family tree.

Giganotosaurus is approximately four feet longer than T. rex. The skull of a Giganotosaurus measures about six feet, while the T. rex skull measures five feet.

Another noticeable difference can be found in their teeth. Giganotosaurus has narrow, blade-like teeth, while T. rex has blunt, cone-shaped teeth.

Q. What are the designs I see in Fernbank’s floor tiles?
A. Fernbank’s floors are made of prehistoric sediment from a limestone quarry in Germany. Fossils of prehistoric marine animals can be seen throughout the tiles, including the cigar-shaped belemnites (ancient relatives of squid), the coil-shaped ammonites (ancient relatives of the chambered nautilus), and the circular or “v”-shaped sponges (some of Earth’s most ancient life forms). The fossils are estimated to be approximately 150 million years old.

Q. Does Fernbank Museum offer media passes to members of the press?
Non-coverage media passes are not available. Fernbank is a private, not-for-profit organization and therefore is unable to provide complimentary admission for leisure visits. However, when a pass is necessary for writing a story or conducting a broadcast, a member of the communications staff will escort members of the press through the museum with a complimentary press pass. Please ask for the Public Relations Department at 404.929.6300 or send an e-mail to set up an appointment.

A number of times throughout the year, Fernbank hosts media events prior to public openings of films and exhibitions. Those members of the media who are interested in covering Fernbank’s programming will receive information about the previews. If you are a member of the press who is not on Fernbank’s regular mailing list, you will need to contact the Public Relations Department with your professional information, including for which media outlet you work, your beat, title, address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address.

Q. My school/organization is having a fundraising event and I would like Fernbank Museum to donate tickets for an auction or raffle item. How do I request complimentary passes?
A. Fernbank Museum accepts donation requests from schools and non-profit organizations for a maximum of two general admission Museum passes per calendar year. All requests must be received in writing at least six weeks prior to the event date. Please read the ticket donation procedures before submitting your request.