Museum Information

Sensory Discover Room

Children of all ages can observe rocks, minerals, shells, reptiles and amphibians up close. Use the microscope to take a closer look at items from nature! Select a coloring page or track rubbing of your favorite Pennsylvania animal. Read a book about the animals found in the museum. Enjoy learning more about nature in this hands-on room. 

African Floor

Learn something every step of the way as you explore the animals of Africa. Highlights include a large collection of the grazing animals of the African grasslands, including dik diks, duikers, an ostrich, a warthog and a zebra. The Predators exhibit includes lions, jackals, a leopard and a hyena. An elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe and crocodile can be seen in the African Watering Hole exhibit. This breathtaking diorama depicts the evening in wilds of Kenya overlooking Mt. Kilimanjaro into Tanzania.

North American Floor

Chesapeake Bay Gallery

This small gallery is packed with information. Learn how the Susquehanna River affects the delicate ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. View an exceptional array of shells, sponges and mollusks collected from the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions. Follow
scientific research conducted by the museum's curators in topics such as archaeology, mycology and entomology featured in a rotating exhibit.

Hollinger Gallery

The piercing eyes of brown bears, polar bears and a black bear will greet you as you enter the Hollinger Gallery.

Sheep Mountain

Gaze across Sheep Mountain at goats and sheep of North America, Africa and Asia. Observe family life inside a beaver lodge and otters ready for play; see what's living in the stream.

Birds, Eggs and Nests

The Birds, Eggs and Nests exhibit features a fraction of our extensive collection of more than 500 clutches of eggs, 300 birds and 200 nests.

Deer of North America

Animals of the North American forest, including a moose, elk and variety of deer are featured in the Deer of North America exhibit. Animal pelts, including fox, coyote and skunk, as well as antlers, are available for observation and exploration on the touch table.

North America: Yesterday and Today

Enter North America: Yesterday and Today to explore the changes in North America from the time of the glaciers to life along the Susquehanna River today. Observe bison roaming Pennsylvania's forests and a mountain lion hunting in our woods.

Susquehanna Backyard

Visit the Susquehanna Backyard exhibit to discover the variety of animals that can be found in our rural, urban and suburban backyards. This exhibit area also features our Alaskan moose, one of the newest acquisitions in the museum.

Museum Store 

Looking for unique gifts or educational items that will enhance your museum experience after your visit? Our store is stocked with quality books, puppets, geological specimens and souvenirs for all ages.

Questions?

Volunteers are available throughout the museum to answer questions or offer assistance. Restrooms and elevators are located outside the museum on each level. A staff member at the Welcome Desk can help you with any further questions.

For more information about our interactive tours, the museum collection, field trips, scout programs, special events or Curator Club program, visit our website at messiah.edu/Oakes or contact the Museum Office (Monday–Friday) at 717-691-6082.

Collection Donors

Jerry Bierbower
Ruth Bierbower
Robert Decker
Nicholas Evanoff, Jr.
Phyllis Goodling
Leonard Hinckley
William Hollinger
C. Ted Lick
Michael Marchiori
James Martin
Richard Neff
Galen Oakes
Leon Rutt
Dale and Catherine Singer
Barton Snyder
Robert and Darlene Stansfield
Paul and Elaine Wengert
Leslie Witmer
Pearl Wolgemuth