Fernbank Museum Suits Up to Explore the Evolution of Armor

New Armored Animals exhibit will be on view from October 5, 2024 to January 5, 2025

This fall, Fernbank Museum invites guests to experience an immersive tour through the last 500 million years of armor evolution in its newest exhibit, Armored Animals. Opening October 5, the exhibit tells a story of protection and defense through impressive artifacts, spiny displays and a variety of animal casts — from the skeletons of rare, early armored dinosaurs and ancient armored fish to giant sea scorpions and more.

Visitors will come face to face with fearsome carnivores, including tyrannosaurs and the Utahraptor — a large, predatory dinosaur known for its prominent toe claws — and will see for themselves the important role that armor played for many species.

Other highlights include the skull of the “super croc” Sarcosuchus and a 30-foot skeletal replica of the giant crocodilian Deinosuchus. Large insect sculptures, a giant ice age tortoise and one of the largest collections of ankylosaur skull and skeletal casts ever assembled will also be on display.

Man-made armor

The exhibit also explores the use of man-made armor, underscoring how humans have historically emulated the animal world in their armor construction. From simple defensive plates and helmets to the mimicking of the design and beauty of animals’ natural armor, there’s a distinct connection between natural evolution and human adaptations of defensive techniques.

Replicas of eight helmets and a crocodile armor suit demonstrate the ways early warriors and hunters sought to capture the incredible defensive power that animals possess.

“When looking at armor, it is incredibly fascinating to see the common connections between creatures as diverse as insects and dinosaurs and how humans have adopted those same defensive techniques,” said Robert Gaston, exhibit curator.

The details

Developed by Gaston Design and sponsored locally in part by the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, Armored Animals will open on October 5. A special viewing will be offered at Fernbank’s A Timeless Affair fundraising event that evening.

The exhibit will be included with all of the museum’s general admission tickets and is free with CityPASS.

For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org.