Looking for a fun and cheap study break on the town? Did you love the latest installment to 20th Century Fox’s “Ice Age” series? Then look no further than the Museum of Arts and Sciences on Forsyth Road, which will continue to host its “Life Through Time: Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals” exhibit until September 16.
The exhibit, which has been up and running since mid-May, features ten animatronic representations of animals that existed between the late Jurassic and late Pleistocene ages.
Familiar faces like the saber-toothed tiger and the wooly mammoth snarl and stamp in their exhibits alongside more obscure creatures, including the gigantic Paraceratherium—an ancestor of the rhinoceros—and the Maiasaura, whose name means “good mother lizard” in Greek.
In the lobby visitors can see the mechanics of the animatronic dinosaurs at work with a “skeleton” that they can control.
Supplementing the exhibit is a new planetarium show, “Dinosaur Prophecy,” included with the price of admission to the museum.
Additionally, visitors can view the museum’s collection of fossils and lithographic artwork depicting prehistoric scenes as visitors walk through the attraction.
Other new attractions at the museum include “Native American Prints and Points” and “The Story of Apollo.” “Prints and Points” displays Native American pottery, weaponry and other artifacts in addition to a collection of prints on loan from Beverly Fitzpatrick, who has loaned them out of the collection of her late husband, Duross Fitzpatrick.
“The Story of Apollo” recounts the history of manned space flights with visual aids provided by Rob Sumowski. Both exhibits are open through Sept. 30.
If dinosaurs, Native Americans and space travel aren’t enough to capture your attention, the museum also includes a live animal exhibit with Geoffrey’s tamarins, geckos, snakes, turtles, tropical birds and a variety of insects and arachnids.
A nature trail snakes through the woods just outside the building.
Those who love to watch the skies can attend the museum’s state-of-the-art Mark Smith Planetarium, which in addition to “Dinosaur Prophecy” plays presentations about constellations and astronomical phenomena.
For an additional $2 stargazers can attend the “Skies Over Macon” show at 8 p.m. on Friday nights. The program includes a regularly updated planetarium show and the opportunity to use the museum’s telescopes.
Admission for students is $7. For questions about museum hours or other attractions, visit the website at www.masmacon.org.
Museum comes to Macon until September 16
