EXHIBITIONS & DIGITAL MEDIA
Come explore seven interactive exhibit halls and spaces! From dinosaurs and Permian animals to Ice Age mammals and more, our exhibits offer something for everyone to discover.
PERMANENT EXHIBIT HALLS
Whitley Permian Hall
The Whitley Permian Hall displays some of the incredible specimens collected by the Whiteside Museum of Natural History, many of which were discovered at the world-famous Craddock Bone Bed. The hall would not be what it is today without the generosity of Bill and Judy Whitley, owners of the Craddock Ranch and Craddock Bone Bed. Their support has helped make these important fossils accessible for research, drawing scientists from around the world to the Whiteside Museum to study its collections and advance our understanding of Early Permian vertebrate paleontology in North Texas.
Chaney Hall of Paleobotany
Named in honor of world-renowned paleobotanist Dan Chaney, this hall explores the plant life of the Permian. As the climate became hotter and drier, drought-tolerant plants such as conifers and seed ferns began to dominate. These plants formed the foundation of ecosystems shared by many of the animals we find here today. Fossils of plants like Calamites, Gigantopteris, and Taeniopteris give us a glimpse of what the Permian landscape around Seymour once looked like.
Lindgren Hall of Ichthyology
It is with great honor that the Whiteside Museum of Natural History dedicates the Lindgren Hall of Ichthyology to Mr. Anthony Lindgren, current and long-time supporter of this museum. Mr. Lindgren's continuous passion for paleontology and support of science and education is an inspiration to us all. The Green River Formation of western Wyoming has yielded world-class fossils of fish, birds, reptiles, mammals, and more, since its discovery around 1840. The fossil bearing-zones represent approximately 6 million years of deposition in a lake environment.
Sundell Hall of Mammals
This exhibit hall features prehistoric mammals to modern-day mammals. It’s named in honor of Dr. Kent Sundell, who has spent his career studying Oligocene mammals. These fossils give scientists a clearer picture of what life and the environment were like during the Eocene and Oligocene. Through his work, Dr. Sundell has helped improve our understanding of how animals evolved and how ecosystems changed in ancient North America.
The Douglass Collection of African Wildlife
The Douglass Collection of African Wildlife features an impressive collection of African taxidermy donated to the Whiteside Museum by Paula Douglass in 2016. Collected by Paula and her late husband, the specimens showcase the diversity of African wildlife and have become a valuable addition to the museum’s exhibits, helping connect modern mammals to the story of mammal evolution.
Bakker Hall of Dinosaurs
The Bakker Hall of Dinosaurs showcases dinosaurs from across North America and explores their connection to modern birds. The hall is named in honor of world-renowned paleontologist Dr. Robert Bakker, whose groundbreaking research helped reshape our understanding of dinosaurs, including the idea that some were warm-blooded.
Charles & Rikki Raflo Fossil Preparation Lab
The Fossil Preparation Lab is where fossils collected from WMNH field sites are carefully cleaned and prepared for research and display. Using microscopes and specialized tools, preparators uncover and preserve even the smallest details of Permian fossils like Dimetrodon, Diplocaulus, and Eryops. The lab was made possible through the generosity of Ms. Rikki Raflo and her support of science education.