After our Watkins Glen hike (which, by the way, made our best hikes of the year list) we had some time left in Ithaca. We decided to check out the Museum of the Earth since it’s close-by and we have some dino enthusiasts among the kids. This was a cute museum that we enjoyed, but it’s helpful to set expectations.
Located at 1259 Trumansburg Rd in Ithaca, it is pretty easy to get to from anywhere in the area. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so plan accordingly for any holiday or school break travel! The biggest thing you should know is that it’s a pretty small museum and a short stop. We were only there a bit over an hour and all three kids (12, 10, and 3) felt they’d seen everything. That being said, their tickets are super reasonably priced with various prices for adults/teens/kids/students–the full pricing list is on their website here.
Why Go?
Short stops are a great option for building a day out. Not every stop can (or should) be a full-day adventure, and it’s fun to have little side quests to pad out activities. In this case, Ithaca has tons of great hiking spots, but this museum is a fun way to give kids a rest and reset in between.
Quick Museum Notes:
- Free and ample parking
- There is a cute gift shop on site
- Stroller friendly layout
- Fairly quiet as far as museums go
- Free audio tours are available
The main focus of this museum is, you guessed it, the Earth. From the giant right whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling when you walk in, to the fossil exhibits progressing over our planet’s history, there are definitely things to see. There were a couple of hands-on exhibits for our 3-year-old, but it is pretty reading heavy. Luckily he’s very into dinosaurs and didn’t mind looking at fossils while his sisters read through some informational placards.
What really makes this museum special is that this is the educational/outreach branch of the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI). The PRI holds millions of fossils in its collection, making this a truly stunning and diverse display of specimens. We love to support local scientists when we can!
Our personal highlights:
- The coelophysis statue outside–my son adored this
- A huge right whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling!
- Finding fossils of dinosaurs we know/recognize
- There is a toddler zone with toys and books which kept little guy very entertained for a while as the girls finished looking around
- The ice age cave at the end of the museum–there’s caves to crawl in, a block of glacial ice to touch, and a mammoth skeleton!
So is The Museum of the Earth worth visiting Ithaca for? No, probably not. But is it worth seeing while you’re already there? Absolutely, yes! We had a great time; this was a perfect stop to round out a day trip.
Have you been here? Which museum has your favorite fossils?
Happy paleontology trails! 🥾💚