Cicadapalooza! After 17 years underground, periodical cicada Brood VIII is resurfacing at Powdermill! Come celebrate this spectacular natural phenomenon at Cicadapalooza! Learn all about cicada biology, morphology, songs, behavior, distribution, […]

Salamander Meander From spotted salamanders to red salamanders, and many species in between, Westmoreland County boasts an impressive diversity of salamanders! Come learn about some of the salamanders (and newts) […]

Wander through our world-class Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition hall, dig for fossils in Bone Hunters' Quarry, and take part in hands-on, dinosaur-themed activities. Meet dinosaur relatives from the museum’s […]

Sam and the Firefly The moon is up and Sam the Owl is ready to play, but when he pops out of his tree everyone else is asleep! What’s an […]

Moths, Mayflies, and Molecules: Using DNA to understand the insect-based diets of birds and fish Brandon Hoenig is a biology PhD student at Duquesne University where he uses modern techniques […]

Presented by Ryan Mathur Beyond the scientific functions of defining Earth processes and fingerprinting sources of materials, the value of stable and radiogenic isotope analyses extends to the cultivation of […]

Nocturnal Insects Fireflies, moths, beetles, and more come out at night! Come hear Andrea Kautz, Powdermill’s Research Entomologist, talk about some of the insects we see at night. After a […]

STRANGEST THINGS SCAVENGER HUNT Happening now during regular museum hours Time travelers, strange rocks, Demogorgon-like creatures and more await you on our Strangest Things scavenger hunt! The adventure is happening […]

Presented by Kevin Righter The terrestrial planets Earth, Mercury and Mars exhibit very different surface compositions, mineralogy and general properties many of which can be explained by oxygen gradients in […]

Presented by Travis Olds Each year, about 100 new minerals are discovered and accepted by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association. Exploration of […]

Presented by Carla Rosenfeld Selenium (Se) critically influences both ecosystem and human health. In modern times, millions of people are impacted by Se deficiency or toxicity and in geologic history […]

Did you know that paleontologists, botanists, zoologists, and many other scientists are studying nature and making discoveries at the museum? Meet real scientists and learn more about what they do! […]

Bats at the Beach The sun has set, and the moon has risen—it’s the perfect time for bats to play! What better way to spend a warm summer night than […]

Beat the Heat, Animal Style How do animals stay cool during the hottest month of the year? Escape the heat yourself and explore some of the interesting cooling methods found […]

Pets come in all shapes and sizes and can be covered with fur, feathers or scales! Create a toy for your furry friend, something special for your winged wonder or […]