Carnegie Museum of Natural History

One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Polar World

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Art depicting a man/bear

ancient carving

This piece of art, which depicts a man/bear, is made from a whale vertebra. It is on display in Polar World: Wyckoff Hall of Arctic Life.

(photo by Hayley Pontia)

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Narwhal statue

ivory and steatite narwhal statue
This ivory and steatite narwhal statue was created by Iguptark Tongelik and can be found in Polar World: Wyckoff Hall of Arctic Life.

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Soapstone and Ivory Walrus

Walrus carved from soapstone and ivory

Soapstone and ivory carved walrus from Pangnirtung, Canada on display in Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Polar World.

(photo by Hayley Pontia)

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High Arctic Butterflies

Arctic Butterfly specimens in a caseWhen you think of a butterfly, do you imagine it fluttering through your garden? Maybe landing on a flower in a tropical forest?

Whatever you’re thinking… it’s probably doesn’t involve the Arctic. But butterflies live surprisingly far north!

Less than 20 species of butterflies are known to live in the Arctic. Carnegie Museum of Natural History scientists collected these High Arctic Butterfly specimens on expeditions in the 1930s and 1940s. Five species are currently on display in Polar World: Wyckoff Hall of Arctic Life.

Shown above next to specimens of Icelandic Scallops, are five types of High Arctic butterflies.