The newest museum in Vancouver has unofficially opened at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and it includes not only a whale, but a whale of a tale.
The new Beaty Biodiversity Museum is holding some special, free public previews this summer in anticipation of its official public opening in fall 2010.
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The Museum will display specimens and collections of all manner of animal and plant life found on earth through the millenia, including over 800,000 preserved fish in jars and 20,000 fossils, some of them 500 million years old.
But the biggest attraction, in both size and 'wow' factor, is the massive 26 metre long blue whale skeleton suspended in the middle of the Museum. The skeleton is from a whale that died and washed ashore on PEI on the east coast in 1987.
The process to reclaim its remains and transport them across the country began 20 years later in 2007. The Blue Whale Project story is both fascinating and a testament to the dedication of the UBC scientists involved. You can view it here.
The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on earth. The skeleton is awe-inspiring in its size - it's simply massive and you can't help yourself marvelling at the beauty of its structure and design. The skeleton floats in the new museum space so effortlessly that it's hard to believe the whale would have weighed 150 tons when it was alive!
Children and adults are equally impressed and fascinated by the story of this magnificent creature. Its continued fragile and endangered existence is a great discussion topic with children old enough to understand and appreciate our human impact on the earth.
The Museum is family & child-friendly, with enthusiastic volunteers ready at every turn to offer information and cool facts about the museum's collection of animals, plants and the topic of biodiversity. The information boards are well-designed and offer interesting details that are easy to understand and relate to.
And, of course children always make their own fun, as you can see above.
[travellingmom tip: Visit the Beaty Biodiversity Museum during one of its special summer preview days; May 29th, June 19th, July 17th and August 21st. Entrance is free and each preview day has a specific theme with unique programs and activities.]