About 40 miles from Boston, the EcoTarium offers a unique take on science and nature with interactive exhibits on topics ranging from dinosaurs to weather, and a wide variety of live animals.
Despite it’s modern name, the EcoTarium has a long history. It was founded in 1825 as the Worcester Lyceum of Natural History and was incorporated in 1884 as the Worcester Natural History Society -- still the museum’s legal name. The change in name accompanied a change in focus from a more traditional science center to an environment museum introducing children to the wonders of our planet and the issues it faces through a series educational and interactive exhibits.
Many of the hands-on exhibits are geared towards smaller children -- preschoolers and young grade schoolers. Older kids and adults may be more intrigued by the many animal exhibits, the planetarium, and the tree canopy walkway.
Zula Patrol Weather Exhibit
The newest exhibit is based on the PBS animated children’s series The Zula Patrol. Called “Mission Weather” it provides a creative introduction to various weather phenomenon -- visitors can put their hand in a real cloud, direct the wind at a model farm, and learn about heat, cold and other aspects of our planet’s weather.
In the DinoTracks exhibit museum-goers can find information about dinosaurs as well as the methods scientists use to study them. Visitors can compare the size of their foot to a dinosaur’s and see how researchers can extrapolate an animal’s size merely from its foot, use a treadmill to see if they could outrun a dinosaur and touch a real fossilized dinosaur footprint.
In addition to these newer attractions, permanent exhibits at the EcoTarium include mineral displays, several exhibits on the New England woodlands and a series of dioramas featuring African animals.
Live Animal Displays
The museum has also many live animals living on its grounds. Inside the building there are enclosures holding a parrot, a Virginia opossum, ferrets, lizards, turtles and more. Outdoors there are larger exhibits, featuring animals such as a red fox, river otters, eagles and owls, and the only polar bear ever to be raised in New England. Born in 1983 and named “Kenda” in a contest, the polar bear remains a local favorite.
Digital Planetarium
The Alden Digital Planetarium shows several programs each day for an additional price, with shows designed for various age groups. Outside the museum is a small train station where the Explorer Express train, a one-third scale model of a 1860s steam engine, takes visitors throughout the museum grounds.
For older children and adults there is also a tree canopy walkway that allows visitors to travel through the trees harnessed to a series of swinging bridges. Called the Sky-High Safari, the tour allows visitors to explore the forest from 40 feet up. Be aware, however, that there are age and weight limits for this tour, as well as clothing requirements, and the trek can be canceled or limited in bad weather.
For visitors to the Worcester area, a trip to this museum can provide an opportunity to explore their children’s natural curiosity about science, nature and environmental issues.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
