Fernbank Museum is launching a $27 million transformation over the next two years. The museum intends to improve its exhibits, engage the visitors more, and provide them with new places related to Earth, space, and life sciences with the help of a $27 million investment.
Highlights
- Fernbank Museum announces a $27 million transformation project spanning the next two years.
- New signature exhibition, temporary gallery, and interactive science zone are planned during the upgrade.
- The new additions will transform the way visitors interact with museum content.
Fernbank Museum to Undergo Revolutionary Transformation
Fernbank Museum in Atlanta successfully raised over $27 million to transform the museum with new exhibits and learning experiences. This modification will cater to the contemporary learning needs of the present and the future. There are three floors in the museum, and the changes will unfold gradually, in phases, over the next two years.
“This is an exciting opportunity to build upon the diverse experiences that make Fernbank so unique, including the extraordinary way Fernbank has integrated content across a 3D giant screen theater, an old-growth forest, and a natural history museum,” said Fernbank’s President and CEO, Jennifer Grant Warner.
More than 80 donors contributed, including major gifts from The Gary W. Rollins Foundation and The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.
“We are proud to support Fernbank, our city’s destination for science and nature experiences,” said Kathleen Rollins, Executive Director of The Gary W. Rollins Foundation. “Fernbank’s unique approach to programming is uniquely aligned with our longstanding commitment to science education.”
Impact on Engagement of Visitors
The transformation will reshape how visitors connect with exhibits and educational content. “We want to offer layered experiences that connect guests more holistically to science, nature, and human culture, providing opportunities to engage all ages of learners in relevant and entertaining ways at Fernbank. The innovative vision of these projects reinforces the interconnected experiences across our campus and out in the world,” Warner said.
Here’s how a modified museum will impact the visitor experience:
- Connectivity between indoor and outdoor activities
- Interconnected disciplines
- Cater to generations of visitors
- Connections across domains in a dramatic and thought-provoking manner
- Better physical accessibility via automatic doors
What to Expect at the Transformed Museum
The major changes across all three floors are listed here. There will be a new signature exhibition, an addition to the temporary exhibit gallery, and more for better connectivity.
Changing Earth
Changing Earth will become Fernbank’s most comprehensive permanent exhibit, where visitors experience a vibrant adventure through the understanding of the complexity of the interconnected systems of the planet.
The exhibit will feature real specimens, hands-on installations, immersive environments, and cutting-edge technology.
The most noteworthy elements in the exhibit include the “Tectonic Dashboard” and the “Tree of Life”. Alongside the new temporary gallery, Changing Earth is expected to open in 2027.
New Temporary Gallery
A new temporary gallery next to the Changing Earth exhibit will allow Fernbank more freedom to bring new exhibits. This venue will accommodate both curated in-house exhibit content and traveling exhibitions, meaning that the museum will be able to expand on different areas of natural history. The rotating gallery ensures returning guests and members always have something new to explore.
Orkin Discovery Zone
Located on the third floor, the Orkin Discovery Zone invites guests of all ages to explore science hands-on and think like scientists. The new version of the exhibit will have interactive features and real specimens, engaging the visitors to observe and think critically.
Guests can observe live animals and peer into discoveries from WildWoods through specially designed displays. A spinning activity lets guests mix and match insect traits to create their own imaginative bug. It is anticipated to open in 2026.
The Star Gallery
The Star Gallery is getting a major overhaul with expanded content on the universe, the solar system, and a new multimedia experience. The fiber-optic ceiling of the gallery will maintain its simulated night sky, but new custom video tiles and new interpretive elements will allow visitors to consider how people throughout time have understood the meaning of the stars in their lives. It is expected to open in late 2025
The project reinforces Fernbank’s mission to inspire curiosity through science, nature, and environmental stewardship. The 120-acre campus remains one of the most recognized cultural attractions.
The museum hosts immersive experiences rooted in science, natural history, and conservation across its exhibits, 3D theater, and Fernbank Forest.
