On a weekend morning, many families in our area typically look for a quick escape that offers both education and a break from the routine. While we may be enjoying the blooming dogwoods of a Georgia spring, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History has transformed its special exhibit hall into a frozen landscape that feels worlds away. The “Planet Ice: Mysteries of the Ice Ages” exhibition, which runs through May 3, 2026, offers a fascinating look at how cold and ice have sculpted the world we live in today.

The exhibition is a journey through 80,000 years of Earth’s history. It is organized into thematic zones that guide visitors from the formation of ice to the future of our climate. One of the most striking features is the collection of more than 100 specimens and hyper-realistic models. You can stand face-to-face with a saber-toothed cat, a woolly mammoth, and a giant beaver—creatures that once roamed North America during the height of the last ice age.

For those who enjoy a more hands-on experience, the show includes several interactive displays. Students and curious adults can use a heat-sensing camera to see how different types of fur and fat provide insulation or try their hand at creating digital snowflakes. One particularly interesting station, “Earth Island,” allows you to manipulate greenhouse gases and solar intensity to see how they affect the advance and retreat of ice on a global scale.

The exhibit also highlights “Lost Lands” like Beringia, the land bridge that once connected Eurasia and North America. It’s a reminder that the geography of our planet is far from permanent. As ice sheets grew and sea levels dropped, these land bridges opened migration routes for animals and the first humans to reach our continent.

Fernbank has paired the exhibit with a giant screen film, “Titans of the Ice Age,” narrated by Christopher Plummer. The film provides a cinematic backdrop to the artifacts seen in the hall, following the journey of a baby woolly mammoth named Lyuba. It’s an immersive way to see these ancient landscapes brought to life.

As you walk through the final sections, the focus shifts to the importance of ice today. Glaciers hold roughly 70% of the world’s fresh water, and their health is vital to global weather patterns. The “Snow-Globe Challenge” at the exit encourages visitors to reflect on personal and collective actions—from renewable energy to conservation—that can help maintain a stable climate for the future.