Sharks, a new special exhibition, will open at the Bullock Texas State History Museum on Saturday, November 11. The exhibition brings to life the incredible diversity of sharks with dozens of life-sized models and offers visitors a unique look at prehistoric and modern species, their habitats and hunting styles, and the conservation threats these spectacular animals face today. Sharks is a bilingual exhibition, presented in both English and Spanish.
We're very excited to bring Sharks to the Bullock, and it's a perfect pairing with our current IMAX documentary, Secrets of the Sea,
said Margaret Koch, Director of the Bullock Museum. With so much attention focused on our coastal waters and these incredible creatures, this exhibition presents a fantastic opportunity for visitors of all ages to learn more about them and the environments in which they thrive.
Today, more than 540 species of sharks and more than 670 species of their close relatives—the rays, skates, and chimaeras—inhabit nearly all the world's marine environments, from coral reefs to the polar seas, and even freshwater rivers. At least 40 species of sharks call Texas waters their home, including bull sharks, which have been found miles upriver from the Gulf, and winter Texans
like short fin makos. Whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, have also been known to make visits to the Texas coast.
Organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, Sharks showcases current research, casts of fossils from AMNH's extensive collections, and a spectacular parade
of sharks highlighting ancient and modern shark species. The models include the prehistoric mega-predator megalodon, the Tyrannosaurus rex of the seas,
which was so large it preyed on whales. Visitors to the exhibit can explore shark anatomy and senses and learn to hunt like a hammerhead shark through touchless interactives and take a picture inside the life-size jaws of the prehistoric megalodon.
The perception of sharks—that they are large, vicious predators to be feared—couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, humans are much more of a threat to sharks than they are to us,
said John Sparks, curator in the Department of Ichthyology at the American Museum of Natural History and curator of Sharks. We hope people walk away from this exciting exhibition with a new appreciation for sharks and understand they are magnificent creatures that should be revered, not feared.
Programs and events celebrating sharks and other sea life will be offered throughout the run of the exhibit, including talks with experts, children's activities, and film screenings.
Sharks will be on view at the Bullock Museum from November 11, 2023 to March 24, 2024. For more information, visit:
Bullock Texas State History Museum
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