Activities for the entire family that are sure to Wow you.

Natural Wonders is  a colourful, fascinating exhibit that celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature with that showcases rarely-seen specimens from our Natural History vaults. Explore the wonder of the natural world through four different environments: oceans, forest, grasslands & deserts, and fresh water. A special display of beetles  in  gorgeous colours and unbelievable sizes is a must-see.

Our animators will be there to greet you with their extraordinary collection on both Saturday and Sunday, May 22 & 23, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

HELP! Miniature herds of bison have taken over The Manitoba Museum, and only you can help us find them.

The tiny rampaging beasts can be found in each of the Museum’s nine galleries. Can you find them all?

To round up the bison, pick up a worksheet at our reception desk. Mark down where you spot the baby buffaloes, and you could win a great prize! Those who find all nine herds will be eligible to win an annual Family Membership or a Family Day Pass to the Museum galleries, Science Gallery, and Planetarium.

Regular admission applies. The program runs during normal opening hours from Tuesday May 10^th to Sunday May 15^th at The Manitoba Museum, 190 Rupert Avenue.

On May 10^th, the Museum unveils the newest and possibly most exciting piece in our mineral collection: a giant amethyst cluster from the Thunder Bay area, Ontario. This specimen will be on exhibit in the new acquisitions case in the Museum foyer. Although it is a very old piece of rock, it is considered a new acquisition, as it only came through the doors of the Museum last year.

This spectacular crystal cluster was collected in September, 2009, from the Blue Points Amethyst Mine, by mine owner Lyndon Swanson, Greg Hasler, and others. It is the largest specimen Mr. Swanson has seen in ten years owning the mine. 

The amethyst was purchased by the Mineral Society of Manitoba and The Manitoba Museum in partnership (with support from The Manitoba Museum Foundation). Logistical support was kindly provided by The Manitoba Geological Survey, who have the facilities to handle such a huge piece (it may weigh over 300 kilograms, or 700 pounds).  In the future, this splendid specimen will be the centrepiece of a planned mineral exhibit in the Earth History Gallery. 

Amethyst is a coloured form of the common mineral quartz (silicon dioxide). Its violet colour is caused by a combination of iron impurities and natural radiation within the Earth. As the birthstone for February, amethyst is commonly used in jewellery. In the past, it was treasured and valuable, but it lost most of its value when huge deposits were discovered in Brazil in the 18^th century. The Ancient Greeks and Romans used amethyst jewelry and drinking cups, since they believed that amethyst protected them against becoming drunk. In fact, the name “amethyst” comes from the Ancient Greek for “not intoxicated”!