Ice and cold have long shaped our planet, and the life and landscapes on it. A new exhibition developed by the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN), Planet Ice: Mysteries of the Ice Ages, takes visitors on a fascinating journey across 80,000 years of Earth’s history. A world-premiere, it is on view at the Museum from now until January 3, 2021.
This dramatic story of ice and adaptation is told through an interesting cast of characters that includes the woolly mammoth, mastodon, cave bear, giant beaver, American lion, and Neanderthals. While some species went extinct, others successfully adapted to survive and thrive (such as muskoxen, caribou and wolves).
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All this is presented through 120 specimens, artifacts and models, which are complemented by interactives and multimedia that drive home the theme that we are still living in an ice age, but the planet is changing with the impacts of climate change.
In addition to weird and wonderful creatures, the life-like sculptures of a Neanderthal adult and child are sure to be a popular draw. The scientifically accurate models were created in the Netherlands by the Kennis brothers, world-renowned for their paleontological recreations. Visitors will learn how Neanderthals were adapted to live in a cold environment.
Other highlights include skeletal casts of a mastodon, giant beaver, short-faced bear, and Smilodon—a saber-toothed cat that became extinct about 10,000 years ago.
Authentic tools and other artifacts that were used by the Tuniit (Dorset) and Thule-Inuit peoples in Canada’s Arctic will also be on display. These archeological treasures—most over a thousand years old—have never before been formally put on exhibit. They are curated at the Canadian Museum of Nature on behalf of the Government of Nunavut.
Along with the impressive specimens, artifacts and models, visitors will enjoy two “magical moments” that create the illusion of a woolly mammoth or American lion emerging from a snow-filled landscape. This combination of animation, artistry and technology is the result of a creative collaboration between the museum and Montreal’s award-winning multimedia studio, Moment Factory.
In the final section of Planet Ice, visitors will be encouraged to reflect how the loss of ice, during a time of climate change, could affect species, infrastructure and ecosystems.
The Canadian Museum of Nature is located at 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa. A special exhibition fee applies for entry to Planet Ice. Due to COVID precautions, visitors must reserve tickets in advance and for specific times. For more information, visit nature.ca.
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