Local’s Guide to Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is one of my favorite museums in Atlanta because there’s a lot more to explore than just dinosaurs. You can wander through an old-growth forest, catch a movie on the Giant Screen, check out rotating special exhibits, and still stand beneath some seriously impressive dinosaur skeletons.

As an Atlanta local, I’ve visited Fernbank plenty of times, from regular museum days to special events. I especially like that you can mix indoor exhibits with WildWoods and Fernbank Forest, so it’s like part museum visit and part nature escape without ever leaving the city.

If you’re planning a visit, here’s what to see at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, how long to spend there, what tickets include, and my tips for making the most of your day.

About Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Fernbank got its start in the 1800s when Emily Harrison preserved 65 acres of forest in the middle of Atlanta for conservation work and science education. Her favorite part of this forest was a creek bank covered with ferns, and so she called the area “Fernbank.”

In 1939, Harrison and Dr. Woolford Baker, a biologist at Emory University, established Fernbank as a nonprofit organization, and in 1992 Fernbank Museum of Natural History officially opened to the public.

Since opening its doors, Fernbank Museum has won many awards, from Best Museum in Atlanta to Top 10 Museum for Dinosaurs in the World.

Explore Fernbank Museum

Check Out the Permanent Exhibits

Fernbank’s permanent exhibits cover dinosaurs, fossils, and the natural history of Georgia.

• Dinosaur Plaza greets you at the front exterior of the museum with bronze recreations of dinosaurs.
• Giants of the Mesozoic fills the museum’s Great Hall where you can stand at the feet of the world’s largest dinosaurs and find fossil casts in the rockwork.
• Orkin Discovery Zone offers hands-on investigation and live animal habitats, showing how science, nature, and human culture connect to each other.
• Fantastic Forces is an interactive STEAM exhibit that highlights the science of rockets, tornadoes, earthquakes, lighting, planetary orbits, gravity, and more.
• NatureQuest is a kid-friendly science playground that lets children discover the wonders of the natural world through activities and live animal displays.
• Reflections of Culture displays photographs, costumes, jewelry, footwear, headdresses, and masks to help you learn about different cultures around the world.
• Sky High is all about Georgia’s extraordinary birds.
• The Star Gallery, featuring Our Place in the Cosmos is an illuminated overhead display of constellations, with a short film on the Big Bang and tactile displays of different types of galaxies and stars.
• STEAM Lab is the museum’s learning hub that offers educational programing and hands-on learning.
• World of Shells exhibits an array of shells collected from the Georgia coast and elsewhere throughout the world. And over in Curator’s Corner, items from Fernbank’s permanent collection are highlighted.

Explore the Special Exhibits

Visiting Fernbank Museum isn’t always about the dinosaurs. There’s always something new to discover with Fernbank’s rotating special exhibits.

You can expect fun exhibits like David Rogers’ Big Bugs, larger-than-life creations of bugs and insects displayed throughout WildWoods; Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants, a series of videos and hands-on interactive activities surrounding giant and bizarre species of freshwater fish; and Fantastic Forces, a hands-on exhibit that explores the science of combustion, aerodynamics, plate tectonics, and more.

See a Movie at the Giant Screen Theater

Fernbank’s Giant Screen Theater provides an immersive experience for a rotating list of movies in both 2D and 3D.

You can expect films covering an array of subjects, like Superpower Dogs, following the life-saving bravery of the world’s working dogs; Apollo 11: First Steps Edition, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing; and my favorite, Great Bear Rainforest, taking a look at the vibrant ecosystem that is home to the rare Spirit Bear.

Wander through WildWoods

WildWoods is Fernbank’s outdoor exhibit that takes you on a walkway through the trees. You’ll find the Nature Gallery full of art and games, the Nature Stories exhibit for kids, and the Adventure Outpost for tweens.

(Note: If you’re an adult and you want to play on the Adventure Outpost, because it’s as awesome as it looks, come back during an adult night event like Fernbank After Dark where you’re free to play!)

Discover Fernbank Forest

Fernbank Forest is 2 miles of walking paths in that 65 acres of land Emily Harrison preserved way back when. You can take a self-guided tour through the old-growth forest, accessed through WildWoods.

You’ll have a lot to take in at Fernbank, so I recommend exploring the indoor exhibits first, then tackling the outdoor exhibits and the Georgia summer heat before coming back in to cool off while watching a movie on the Giant Screen.

Things To Do at Fernbank Museum

Attend Special Events and Programs

Fernbank Museum offers a ton of special programs throughout the year. These are things like story telling, animal encounters, bird walks, themed family days, and adult nights.

Shop at the Museum Store

The Fernbank Museum store has more than 3,000 unique and educational gifts for children and adults. The store is open during all Museum hours.

Eat at Bean Sprouts Café

Bean Sprouts Café offers delicious sandwiches, pizzas, and kids’ meals in a dining area on the lower level. Bean Sprouts Café is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visiting Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Location: 767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30307

Admission: Museum tickets include access to all exhibits, WildWoods, Fernbank Forest, and a movie in the Giant Screen Theater, plus free parking. Value Tickets (most weekdays Monday-Friday) cost $25.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors 65+, and $23.95 for children ages 3-12. Standard Tickets (most weekends and holiday weekdays) cost $27.95 for adults, 26.95 for seniors, and $25.95 for children.

Additional movies cost $5 each.

You can get discounted admission to Fernbank Museum using the Atlanta CityPASS.

Hours: Fernbank Museum is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fernbank Forest closes at 4:30 p.m. Some movies have a last showtime of 5 p.m. The museum is also open on select nights for adult events. The museum is closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Parking: Onsite parking at Fernbank is free!

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Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
• Save on Attractions: Save 50% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.

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Cheers!

Paige

Have you visited Fernbank Museum of Natural History? Let me know in the comments!