Ray and Jackson Trujillo, 4, of Las Vegas, learns about creatures that live in caves at the new exhibit in the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A model of deep sea life is seen at the new exhibit at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Jackson Trujillo, 4, of Las Vegas, explores the new exhibit at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Jackson Trujillo, 4, of Las Vegas, learns about deep see fish at the new exhibit in the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Ray and Jackson Trujillo, 4, of Las Vegas, explore the new exhibit at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Jackson Trujillo, 4, of Las Vegas, explores the new exhibit at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Ray and Jackson Trujillo, 4, of Las Vegas, learns about creatures that live in caves at the new exhibit in the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Jackson Trujillo, 4, of Las Vegas, learns about creatures that live in caves at the new exhibit in the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Jackson Trujillo, 4, of Las Vegas, learns about creatures that live in caves at the new exhibit in the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A model of bats is displayed at the new exhibit at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The new exhibit at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, In the Dark, is seen in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A traveling exhibit that was meant to bring “darkness” to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum back in March is now open at the downtown museum.
“In the Dark” invites visitors to discover the dark, often unseen, ecosystems of the world, such as caves, the deep sea, the forest at night and underground.
Guests can explore these mysteries with electronic, mechanical and computer interactives, immersive dioramas, and lifelike models.
The traveling exhibit from the Cincinnati Museum Center has been in storage since spring, when its schedule was paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Natural History Museum reopened June 1 and has instituted new health and safety measures to make the temporary exhibit possible.
“With the way (“In the Dark”) is constructed, it does feel like walking into a darker, cooler area,” says Kate Porter, development and marketing director of the museum. “It explores darkness in soil, underground, the depths of the sea. It’s a nice immersive, experiential setup.”
Porter says the exhibit, which explores the natural evolutionary pressure that caused plants and animals to adapt to darkness, initially featured a more hands-on experience.
Some of those features had to be made unavailable because of the ongoing pandemic.
The museum has enacted heightened cleaning and social distancing measures that allow groups to move through the museum in one direction.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised. We’ve had a steady flow of people and would love to welcome more. We’re thrilled that the community is comfortable enough to come back,” Porter says.
