Meet the Mastodons at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to come face-to-face with a mastodon? While these Ice Age giants have been extinct for thousands of years, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton, Ohio, brings them back to life in stunning detail. When you step into the museum’s newly reimagined main lobby, you are greeted by not one but two of the most scientifically accurate mastodon reconstructions in the United States.
Science You Can See
Paleontologists at the Boonshoft Museum partnered with Blue Rhino Studio, one of the world’s premier exhibit design companies known for their incredible 3D scientific sculptures — you may recognize their work from Chicago’s Field Museum. Each mastodon was brought to life with extraordinary attention to detail including realistic eyes, expertly painted tusks, and hand-applied synthetic hair. The result was two realistic mastodons that transport visitors straight back to the Ice Age.
“The Boonshoft mastodons went through numerous reviews and revisions before their final size, shape, and pose were approved. Our goal was to create a diorama that brought the Ice Age to life while inspiring our guests to learn more about Ohio’s ancient past,” says Jill Krieg Stover, the Boonshoft Museum’s Curator of Anthropology and Exhibitions.
Inspired by Real Bones
In the diorama, you’ll meet Feather, an adult mastodon, and Stone, a curious juvenile modeled after a real specimen in the Boonshoft Museum’s collection. Stone’s inspiration comes from a mastodon skull discovered at Carter Bog in Darke County, Ohio. Carter Bog was once a water-filled depression where Ice Age animals gathered for thousands of years. Many became trapped in the muddy environment, and thanks to the low oxygen levels, their remains were remarkably preserved.
Between 1970 and 1973, a team from the Museum excavated at Carter Bog, uncovering more than 3,000 bones representing at least 22 different species, including mastodons, giant ground sloths, giant beavers, and stag moose. Radiocarbon dating reveals that these ancient animals roamed Ohio approximately 12,000 years ago.
Not a Dinosaur
By the time mastodons lived in Ohio, the dinosaurs had already been gone for millions of years. The impressive reconstructions and skeletons you see in the Boonshoft Museum’s main lobby are mammals not dinosaurs. These large Ice Age animals are known as megafauna. With no dinosaurs competing for resources, mammals began to grow to incredible sizes, filling new ecological roles. Their reign didn’t last forever and around 80,000 years ago, Ice Age megafauna began to decline, and by about 10,000 years ago, most (including the mastodon) were extinct.
Multiple Ways to Learn
The Boonshoft Museum’s newly redesigned lobby was designed with the whole family in mind, offering countless ways to explore and learn about the Ice Age. Visitors can marvel at the full-scale mastodon models and Ice Age skeletons, dive into discovery with interactive kiosks and touchscreen games, and even get hands-on with bronze mastodon sculptures and replica mastodon teeth. The new lobby is just the beginning; it marks the first step in a complete renovation of the Boonshoft Museum’s first floor.
“This is one of those moments we’ll always remember at the Boonshoft Museum,” says Tracey Tomme, President and CEO. “We’re all so excited to be part of this incredible project and will never forget the day the mastodons arrived.”
Plan Your Visit
The Ice Age exhibit is now open in the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery’s main lobby. Come meet Feather and Stone and step back in time to explore what Ohio looked like 12,000 years ago. While you’re here, don’t miss the Discovery Zoo, Planetarium, Bieser Room of Wonders, Science Theater, and so much more. At the Boonshoft Museum, we create meaningful and entertaining learning experiences for curious minds!