SAN BERNARDINO>> San Bernardino County is home to deserts, mountain ranges, lakes, and creeks that are ecological hotspots for life. A new series of exhibits is being installed in the upper level of the San Bernardino County Museum. The Hall of Biodiversity will open on Aug. 26.
“The Hall of Biodiversity gives visitors the opportunity to explore the region’s rich biodiversity through interactive exhibits, displays, and specimens from our extraordinary mammal collection,” said David Myers, the museum’s curator of visitor experience. “Along the way, visitors will make their own discoveries by viewing plants and insects up close under digital microscopes, find out what they can do to keep animal populations healthy by becoming citizen scientists, and learn the fascinating stories of why bison roam Catalina Island and how the California condor was brought back from the brink of extinction.“
Exhibits include large mammals selected from the collections that relate directly to inland southern California. Some are locally extinct; some are endangered, some are flourishing, and still others have been introduced in historic times. Reflecting the biodiversity for which the hall is named, exhibits of small mammals, arthropods, and birds have also been created.
“Human behavior has the power to impact the environment, so we want visitors to come away from the Hall of Biodiversity understanding why biodiversity is important in our region, what we have done in the past to shape our environment, and feel empowered to make a positive impact in their own communities,” said Myers.
The San Bernardino County Museum’s Hall of Biodiversity and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.
The San Bernardino County Museum is at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.