Press Release
Florida Museum shark exhibit that began in High Springs traveling far and wide
Nov. 2, 2009
Media contact:
Paul Ramey, APR
Assistant Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Florida Museum of Natural History
352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Lauren Churchwell
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- From its humble beginnings at Archie's Welding Services in High Springs, the Florida Museum of Natural History's "Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived," exhibit has traveled many miles since its debut in June 2007.
After its display at the Florida Museum in Gainesville, the exhibit made a trans-pacific journey to the Bishop Museum in Honolulu where it was well received by more than 50,000 visitors from Oct. 11, 2008, to Jan. 11. The Miami Science Museum displayed the exhibit from Feb. 21 through Sept. 13 to an audience of more than 60,000.
"I would venture to say that the full-scale model is one of the most favorite parts—it's definitely mine," said Adriana Marin, Miami Science Museum marketing manager. "It's really impressive because you can see it in comparison with your own size."
The "Megalodon" exhibit features a 60-foot-long walk-through sculpture of the massive shark that vanished nearly 2 million years ago, and highlights the evolution, biology and misconceptions regarding this marine predator. Archie's fabricated the life-size metal model of the prehistoric shark, and the company's work was featured in the national trade publication "Welding Journal."
"Megalodon" is now on display at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, and is scheduled to travel to museums in Kansas, Mississippi and North Carolina before its arrival at the Smithsonian Institution in early 2012.
The Florida Museum developed "Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived" with support from the National Science Foundation and displayed it June 16, 2007, through Jan. 6, 2008, to more than 115,000 visitors -- a 22 percent increase in visitation from the same time period the previous year.
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The Florida Museum of Natural History is Florida's state natural history museum, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $9.50 for adults ($8 Fla. residents) and $5 for children ages 3-12. Prices subject to change. For more information, including directions and parking, call (352) 846-2000, or visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu.