Experience the IMMOTION Virtual Reality Simulator performances at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, and enjoy a fully immersive single person adventure that lets you travel back in time to see dinosaurs face-to-face with motion-enhanced seating synchronized with immersive VR visuals and sounds.
Performances last approximately 5-6 minutes each, with a small amount of time on either end for loading and unloading. Designed for a single rider per seat.
$7 per performance for DelMNS members ages 4 and up. $9 per performance for non-members ages 4 and up.
Step back 66 million years and journey through the final chapter of the age of dinosaurs in Dinosaur Evolution—a thrilling immersive experience that brings the Cretaceous world to life. Witness feathered raptors on the hunt, armored giants defending their turf, and the mighty T. rex at the top of the food chain. But even these perfectly evolved creatures couldn’t escape Earth’s most devastating extinction event. Stunning visuals and cutting-edge science reveal how evolution shaped the dinosaurs—and how birds, their modern-day descendants, continue their legacy. It’s a prehistoric adventure that will inspire the next generation of paleontologists and conservationists alike.
Dinosaurio Evolución
Vámonos atrás 66 millones de años al capítulo final de la era de los dinosaurios en Dinosaurio Evolución–una emocionante experiencia inmersiva que le da vida a la época del Cretácico. Mira cómo el rapaz emplumado está cazando, como esos gigantes armados defienden su territorio, y cómo el poderoso Tyrannosaurus Rex está en la cima de la cadena alimentaria. Pero incluso estascriaturas perfectamente evolucionadas no pudieron escapar del evento de extinción másdevastador de la Tierra. Utilizando tecnología y ciencia, Dinosaurio Evolución esta llena de imágenes impresionantes que revelan cómo la evolución dio forma a los dinosaurios y cómo las aves, sus descendientes modernas, continúan su legado. Es una aventura prehistórica que inspirará a la próxima generación de paleontólogos y conservacionistas por igual.
Requirements to Ride:
Riders must be a minimum of 35 inches in height.
Riders must be ages 4 and up.
Maximum combined weight for two-seat platform is 600 pounds total.
Health Considerations:
For safety reasons, this experience is not recommended for guests who have any of the following conditions:
Have recently had surgery or are recovering from illness
Have heart conditions
Are pregnant
Have pre-existing health issues with their neck, back or bones
Have high blood pressure or aneurysms
Have photosensitive epilepsy
Are prone to motion sickness
Rediscovering the ‘Hulimaia’ (Moho angustipluma): an extinct bird from the rainforests of Hawai‘i
Have you ever heard of the Kioea (Moho angustipluma)? According to early American naturalists, the native people of Hawai‘i hadn’t either. Endemic to Hawai‘i Island, Moho angustipluma (formerly in the genus Chaetoptila) is a species of Hawaiian ‘honeyeater’ that went extinct by the 1860s, and until recently, has been widely recognized by the native name “Kioea.” The assumed name of this tropical bird has persisted in literature since the late nineteenth century with little information available to contest it. However, new research by Matthew R. Halley, Ph.D., Research Director and Curator of Birds at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, sheds new light on this mysterious species. In a new paper in Pacific Science (University of Hawaii Press), Halley proposes that its true native name has been obscured by time: “Hulimaia.”
Three artistic representations of Moho angustipluma: (left) unnumbered lithographic plate from Wilson and Evans (1891), presumably based on the Cambridge specimen (UMZC 27/mel/6/a/1), captioned “F. W. Frohawk del. et lith. / West Newman, imp.”; (center) unnumbered lithographic plate from Rothschild (1900), presumably based on the Rothschild specimen (AMNH458995), captioned “J.G. Keulemans del. et lith. /Mintern Bros. imp.”; (right) Pl. 11 from Cassin (1858), based on the holotype (USNM 15771), captioned “T. R. Peale del. / W. G. Newton Sc.”
Titian Ramsay Peale’s (1849) original description of M. angustipluma stated that this bird “frequent[ed] the woody districts … generally found about those trees which are in flower.” This implies that the bird inhabited forested areas on Hawai‘i Island and relied on nectar as its primary food source. Specimens of M. angustipluma reach lengths of 320 to 345 mm, which makes this species the largest known nectivorous passerine (perching) bird species on Hawai‘I, so the name Kioea (standing tall) would seem to be a fitting description—but see below.
Its brown plumage, streaked with white, did not possess the typical black and yellow colors typical of Moho species, although recent genetic evidence suggests that it is correctly placed in that genus (Zhao et al. 2026). Moreover, although native Hawaiians frequently used native bird feathers in cultural materials and artifacts, especially those of the Hawai‘i ‘Ō‘ō (Moho nobilis)and Hawai‘i Mamo (Drepanis pacifica)—both also extinct—the feathers of M. angustipluma are evidently absent from documented Hawaiian feather work. The species is also not represented in native Hawaiian literature, cultural practices, or bird taxonomies.
Three views of the Washington specimen (USNM15771), holotype of Moho angustipluma (Peale), its three extant labels, and its entry in the USNM ledger. The oldest label (top right) was created after the specimen was cataloged at USNM on 15 December 1859, after Cassin (1858), and is now detached from the specimen and stored in a separate binder. Reproduced courtesy of the Division of Birds, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
In literary accounts, scholars concluded that the native Hawaiians, who failed to recognize the name “Kioea” when asked, knew nothing about this native species. However, Halley has proposed that traditional knowledge of M. angustipluma was a casualty of colonization—like the species itself, which went extinct within a century after European contact. Furthermore, he suggests that the reason that locals on Hawai‘i Island were not familiar with the name “Kioea,” was simply that it was not the bird’s true native name.
Halley’s research paper, “Forgotten Knowledge of the Extinct Hawaiian ‘Hulimaia’ (Mohoidae),” uncovers overlooked primary sources which address these misconceptions. Having studied the Peale family for many years, Halley had long puzzled over the history of M. angustipluma. It was not until he was introduced to the writings of Zepherin “Kepelino” Kahō’āli’i Teauotalani, a native Hawaiian scholar, through the scholarship Gomes (2020), that he broke new ground. Teauotalani lived on Hawai‘i during the period when M. angustipluma is believed to have gone extinct, and Halley argues that his account of the “Hulimaia, the Bird of the Mountain Banana Groves” is likely an overlooked native description of the species, which contains otherwise unknown information about its behavior and ecology.
Digital scan of Teauotalani’s (1859) description of “Ta Hulimaia, manu o ta ea.” Reproduced courtesy of the He Aupuni Palapala Project, Bishop Museum Library & Archives.
Teauotalani (1859) described the “Hulimaia” in an essay titled “Huli-Toa Manu Havaii” (A description of Hawaiian birds), which appeared in a local Hawaiian-language newspaper. The name used by Teauotalani is onomatopoeic—i.e., the name imitates the sound of the bird’s vocalizations—as he stated when “[the bird] cries, it says ‘hulinm-mmaiah, hulinm-mmaiah’ therefore, as ‘hulinm-mmaiah is its cry, it is named hulimaia.” According to Halley, no extant Hawaiian species possesses the combination of large body size, brown plumage, and nectivorous feeding habits described by Teauotalani (1859). However, these features are a good match for the morphology and presumed behavior of the extinct M. angustipluma.
Further research showed that the name “Kioea” was simply an error, which had been introduced to literature by Sanford Dole, a non-native Hawaiian scholar, in 1879. The name simply became entrenched in literature after decades of uncritical repetition. Ultimately, this led Halley to the conclusion that “Hulimaia” (Teauotalani 1859) was the true native name of M. angustipluma.
In a world where science has historically favored Western (print) literature over the oral transfer of knowledge, to rediscover and restore even a small piece of indigenous knowledge—and a forgotten native name—is a massive success. However, Halley’s hope for the future is a simple one. He hopes that the Hulimaia—despite its tragic extinction—will come to be seen as a symbol of cultural restoration.
“Knowledge is something that predates the printing press,” Halley says, “Knowledge is something that ultimately comes from experience, and the native people of Hawai‘i have a great deal of that.”
Furthermore, he says that by recognizing the name “Hulimaia,” and speaking it aloud in the forests of Hawai‘i, we can help to preserve the cultural memory of a lost species. This will serve as a much-needed reminder, that we cannot take the native birds that still exist for granted.
Literature cited
Gomes, N. J. 2020. Reclaiming native Hawaiian knowledge represented in bird taxonomies. Ethnobiol. Lett. 11: 30–43.
Halley, M. R. 2026. Forgotten knowledge of the extinct Hawaiian ‘Hulimaia’ (Mohoidae). Pacific Science 80: 141–156.
Peale, T. R. 1849. United States Exploring Expedition . . . Volume 8. Mammalia and ornithology. C. Sherman, Philadelphia.
Rothschild, W. 1900. The avifauna of Laysan and the neighboring islands; with a complete history to date of the birds of the Hawaiian possessions. Part III. R. H. Porter, London.
Teauotalani, Z. 1859. Hoiliili Havaii: He Mau Hana, Olelo, Manao, E Pili Ana I To Havaii Nei, Pepa 3: He Vahi Huli-Toa Manu Havaii. Pai-Palapala Katolika.
Zhao, M., Kimball, R. T., & Braun, E. L. 2026. The phylogenetic position of the extinct Hawaiian honeyeaters: overcoming the limitations of antique DNA. Zoological Scripta 55: 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70047.
Article by
Meghan Caughron
My name is Meghan Caughron, and I’m a Scientific Communications Intern at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, funded through the Delaware INBRE. I attend the University of Delaware, where I major in English and minor in Landscape Horticulture and Insect and Wildlife Conservation. In my current role, I aspire to share the untold stories of our collections and shine a metaphorical spotlight on all of the amazing individuals that help to make DelMNS a success.
New Bird Species Discovered in Collections: A Tawi-Tawi Tale of Mismatched Specimens
The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science (DelMNS) houses an expansive bird collection in its Collections & Research Division, with over 116,000 bird specimens and 37,000 egg clutches, which are used for both scientific research and education. This collection is managed by DelMNS Research Director and Curator Dr. Matthew Halley, who has worked full-time at the museum since June 2021.
Last year, Dr. Halley encountered something that made him take pause: a single white-throated specimen in a drawer of brown-throated Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon specimens (Ducula poliocephala) from the Philippines. The peculiar white-throated specimen was collected on Tawi-Tawi Island in 1971 by Dioscoro S. Rabor.
In a paper published in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Dr. Halley has designated this specimen (DMNH 14999) as the “holotype” of a new species—the Tawi-Tawi Imperial Pigeon (Ducula tawitawi)—the first new (living) species of imperial pigeon to be described to science since 1928.
Species in the genus Ducula (family Columbidae) are commonly known as “imperial pigeons.” They live in the rainforest canopy throughout the Indo-Pacific region, and can reach considerable sizes (35–45 cm). Because their diet primarily consists of fruit, they likely play an important role as seed dispersers in tropical forests.
On the left, three views of DMNH 14999 and (right) its label and entry in the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, Wilmington, ledger; the specimen was identified (apparently by duPont, see text) as ‘Ducula poliocephala nobilis’ when it was catalogued in 1972 (Matthew R. Halley)
The last living Ducula species was described in 1928, nearly a century ago, and before that, it was 1896. For decades, it has been assumed that the scientific inventory of the world’s Ducula species was complete—until now. Unfortunately, around 20% of the ~353 species of pigeons and doves are threatened with extinction, and we can probably add D. tawitawi to the list. It is only found in the threatened rainforests of Tawi-Tawi, a single oceanic island.
Dr. Halley searched through museum databases to locate other Imperial Pigeon specimens from Tawi-Tawi, and contacted colleagues at the Philippine National Museum in Manila, but he only managed to locate two others—both in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USNM). They were collected during the Menage Expedition in 1891 by Dean Conant Worcester and Frank S. Bourns. Dr. Halley went to the USNM earlier this year, to examine these specimens, and found that they too had white throats like the DMNH specimen!
Halley also found evidence that the songs of D. tawitawi are unique. The mating songs of the closely related Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon (brown-throated D. poliocephala) and White-bellied Imperial Pigeon (D. forsteni) consist of two “coos,” but recordings from Tawi-Tawi made by Desmond Allen, a British ornithologist and field guide author, consisted of 5–8 coos. Because songs are innate (genetically encoded) in pigeons and doves, this implies that these populations are reproductively isolated—more evidence that D. tawitawi was an undescribed species.
Geographic variation in throat colour in the Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula [poliocephala] complex, as demonstrated by adult males held in the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, Wilmington: (A) DMNH 4501: Samar, May 1970; (B) DMNH 66314: Sibuyan, June 1973; (C) DMNH 1701: Mindanao, June 1961; (D) DMNH 14999: Tawi-Tawi, December 1971; (E) DMNH 10576: Mindoro, March 1971; (F) DMNH 66318: Marinduque, April 1972; (G) DMNH 3501: Luzon, March 1969 (Matthew R. Halley)
Amazingly, this isn’t the first time Dr. Halley has uncovered a new kind of bird. In previous years, he led a team that described a cryptic new species (Catharus arcanus) and two new subspecies (C. opertaneus tenebris, C. berlepschi nebulus) of nightingale-thrush from Panama, Ecuador and Peru, respectively, and he has also described two new subspecies of tailorbirds (genus Orthotomus) from the Philippines. The holotypes of the tailorbird subspecies are in the DelMNS collection.
D. tawitawi is the first new Ducula species to be identified in almost one hundred years—without a doubt, there’s always something extraordinary to find in the collections at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science!
References
Halley, M. R. 2022. A new subspecies of Black-headed Tailorbird Orthotomus nigriceps (Cisticolidae) and clarification of age-related plumage sequences. Journal of Asian Ornithology 38: 129–134
Halley, M. R., Catanach, T. A., Klicka, J., and J. D. Weckstein. 2023. Integrative taxonomy reveals hidden diversity in the Catharus fuscater (Passeriformes: Turdidae) complex in Central and South America. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 199: 228–262.
Halley, M. R. 2025. Plumage variation in White-eared Tailorbird Orthotomus cinereiceps (Cisticolidae) with a description of a new subspecies from Mindanao, Philippines. Journal of Asian Ornithology 41: 51–57.
Halley, M. R. 2026. A new species of imperial pigeon (Columbidae: Ducula) from Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 146: 295–310.
Article by
Meghan Caughron
My name is Meghan Caughron, and I’m a Scientific Communications Intern at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, funded through the Delaware INBRE. I attend the University of Delaware, where I major in English and minor in Landscape Horticulture and Insect and Wildlife Conservation. In my current role, I aspire to share the untold stories of our collections and shine a metaphorical spotlight on all of the amazing individuals that help to make DelMNS a success.
Addressing a “Sea-rious” Situation: Julia Wingate’s Take on Why Beach Restoration Matters.
Making Waves for Change
Julia Wingate, a rising high school senior studying natural resources, has a very particular issue that she’s passionate about: beach restoration in Delaware. As a Work-Based Learning Intern from the Appoquinimink School District, Julia has worked with the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science to develop a Gallery Interpretation kit focusing on Delaware Beach Ecosystems, stressing the importance of maintaining these beaches’ qualities and explaining how their condition affects the lives of the organisms who reside in those environments.
Designed to help guests better understand the organisms that live, nest, and grow on Delaware’s beaches, Julia’s beach ecology kit addresses many things: the necessity of beach restoration for animal protection and environmental conservation, what exactly beach restoration is, how to understand animal habitats on Delaware beaches, and how to contribute to beach restoration yourself.
“Beach restoration has been happening for many years now,” Julia says, describing the local history behind the practice. “Lots of money has been spent on it, and yet not much progress has been made.”
This lack of visible change has further motivated Julia to support this cause and increase its visibility among the general public. Julia makes a point to emphasize that restoring Delaware’s beaches isn’t solely for human enjoyment, but rather for the purpose of sustaining the organisms that reside there. A multitude of creatures, such as the marine horseshoe crabs and the migratory red knots, depend on Delaware’s shores for nesting and nourishment.
Without considerable restorative efforts, Delaware’s beaches will become unfit to provide for these species and many others, which would in turn lead to greater environmental collapse. Therefore, the only “shore” solution is exactly what Julia so strongly advocates for; restoring Delaware’s beaches.
What is Beach Restoration?
According to Julia Wingate, beach restoration can be described in many ways. Straightforwardly, it’s an earnest attempt to preserve beaches for the benefit of both humans and animals. It can also be restoring beaches to their natural condition prior to human intervention. But ultimately, Julia describes it as a process that creates a clean and safe space for all, regardless of species.
A plethora of efforts take place throughout the process of beach restoration, some of which look very different from one another. For instance, one particular task may be planting vegetation like grass and shrubs to prevent flooding and erosion. Other efforts may be seen through tracking and monitoring migrating shorebirds, which keeps local government and other relevant organizations informed about migration patterns and the current population numbers of different species. And, of course, the most natural thing that comes to mind is pumping new sand on to Delaware’s beaches, an effort that visibly replenishes depleted beach systems by transferring new sand on to eroded coastal areas.
Ultimately, beach restoration is a multifaceted process that touches upon the many components that make up an ecosystem, affecting abiotic and biotic resources alike.
The Ins and Outs of Julia’s Gallery Interpretation Kit
In the new Gallery Interpretation Kit that Julia has developed, a diverse range of materials have been incorporated in order to improve the public’s understanding of beach ecology. This ranges from examples of the different organisms that reside there, to the different plants that help to reinforce the longevity of Delaware’s sand dunes. Here are just a few of the several components she’s included in her educational project:
Horseshoe Crab
Using a horseshoe crab model, Julia aims to improve the public’s familiarity with the aquatic organism. These creatures are abundant in Delaware, serving as a food source for seabirds and also holding an important role in the biomedical industry due to the beneficial properties of their blood.
As a result of erosion and other environmental factors accelerated by human activity, many horseshoe crab nesting grounds are destroyed. This significantly interferes with the horseshoe crabs’ life cycle, and also often leaves them trapped on beaches. Other issues like littering also pose a risk to these creatures, as trash may be mistakenly ingested, which incorporates microplastics into the food chain.
Rufa Red Knot Migration Pattern
The rufa red knot carries out an incredibly long migration, wintering at the tip of South America before continuing its journey upward to Northern Canada to breed. Along this lengthy journey is a brief respite in the Delaware Bay, where red knots rest and replenish themselves before migrating further north. Here in the bay, red knots depend on horseshoe crab eggs as a primary food source.
However, because erosion disrupts horseshoe crab nesting areas, red knots are threatened by a potential loss of food resources. Additionally, the issue of microplastic contamination in horseshoe crab eggs also poses a threat to red knots, making them inedible and harmful to consume. Therefore, it’s important that beach restoration becomes a priority in order to preserve these interconnected species.
Beach Grass
Beach grass, along with other plants such as northern bayberry, serves as an integral defense against issues like coastal erosion and storm-related flooding. Because of its deep and fibrous root structure, beach grass is able to act as a sand stabilizer, allowing dunes to accumulate and grow in size.
However, these plants can be easily disrupted, especially in their early stages of development. Julia notes, “It is important that [beachgoers] can recognize these plants and are made aware not to pick up, walk on, or disturb them when on the beach.”
Why Does This Matter?
Just by looking at these three examples alone, it is easy to see how each of these different organisms make up an integral part of Delaware’s beach ecosystems. These organisms possess deeply interconnected relationships, whether you observe their relationships through the lens of the food web, or through their relationship with coastal erosion. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that each of these components are equally integral to sustaining beach ecosystems, and beach restoration is an essential part of guaranteeing the longevity of these organisms and their environment.
What Can You Do to Help?
As a part of her Gallery Interpretation kit, Julia provides the names of several groups with whom you can volunteer and make a difference, consisting of both government and independent organizations. If you feel moved by Julia’s cause, consider supporting or volunteering with the groups below:
They also advertise annual events such as beach grass planting and coastal cleanups, which have been incredibly successful in past years. Consider volunteering with DNREC if you’re looking to make an environmental difference!
Take part in shoreline maintenance, horseshoe crab monitoring, and more with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays!
Surfrider Foundation
Volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation’s Delaware Chapter today! The Surfrider Foundation champions many coastal issues, spanning from plastic pollution to ocean protection. One of their most recent accomplishments includes posting signage at Delaware beaches in order to prevent the erosion of planted sand dunes.
To take part in achievements like this, join the Surfrider Foundation and make a difference!
Check It Out!
If you’re interested in learning more about beach ecology from Julia Wingate’s Gallery Interpretation kit, head on over to the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science to see it for yourself.
Article by
Meghan Caughron
My name is Meghan Caughron, and I’m a Scientific Communications Intern at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, funded through the Delaware INBRE. I attend the University of Delaware, where I major in English and minor in Landscape Horticulture and Insect and Wildlife Conservation. In my current role, I aspire to share the untold stories of our collections and shine a metaphorical spotlight on all of the amazing individuals that help to make DelMNS a success.
Revolutionary Stories & Evolutionary Specimens
Delaware’s state symbols are more than emblems on a flag or a page in a textbook
They connect to real people and stories: a missionary on the Delaware Bay, a soldier’s legendary chickens, a forester cataloguing the woods, a woman leading people to freedom through autumn marshes, an astronomer who grew up watching the stars from a Dover rooftop, and generations of Delaware students.
From the deep natural history recorded in fossils and forests to the actions of people who challenged, discovered, and reimagined the world around them, these symbols connect science and history.
This exhibit highlights figures with direct or thematic ties to Delaware and the surrounding region, alongside Delaware students whose curiosity continues this legacy. Created in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States and the State of Delaware, DE250 invites visitors to explore how Delaware has been a place of both discovery and change. As you visit the museum, explore some of these stories on panels in our galleries.
John Campanius Holm
(1601-1683)
In 1643, Swedish Lutheran missionary John Campanius Holm arrived at the colony of New Sweden, near present-day Wilmington. He learned the Lenape language, recorded their customs, and carefully documented the plants and creatures of the Delaware Bay. His grandson later published his observations, including one of the earliest European descriptions of the horseshoe crab.
Horseshoe Crab
Delaware State Marine Animal
The horseshoe crab has lived in Delaware’s waters for more than 400 million years — long before the dinosaurs. Every spring, thousands crowd the shores of the Delaware Bay to lay their eggs, drawing migrating shorebirds from across the hemisphere. In 2002, the Delaware General Assembly designated the horseshoe crab as the state’s official marine animal.
Charles Willson Peale
(1741–1827)
During the summer of 1793 — amid the deadly Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia — Charles Willson Peale and his 13-year-old son, Titian Ramsay Peale I (1780–1798), traveled to Cape Henlopen, Delaware for a four-week collecting trip. Their goal was to collect and prepare taxidermied bird specimens for their museum in Philadelphia, including Northern Harrier, Willet, Clapper Rail, Great Egret, Osprey, and Pied-Billed Grebe — the oldest bird specimen records from Delaware.
Red Knot
Delaware State Migratory Bird
One of the newest state symbols, the Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) is a migratory bird that stops along the Delaware bays every year, feasting on horseshoe crab eggs before continuing its journey north. Up to 90 percent of the Red Knot subspecies Rufa can pass through the Delaware bays in a single day during spring migration. Delaware’s House Bill 189 made it official, signed into law by Governor Matt Meyer on July 16, 2025.
William S. Taber
(1899–1981)
In 1927, William S. Taber became Delaware’s very first State Forester, a position he held for over four decades. He catalogued the trees of Delaware and wrote the state’s first comprehensive native tree guide, Delaware Trees. A copy of this book is available to view in the museum’s Field Station.
American Holly
Delaware State Tree
The American Holly (Ilex opaca) has deep roots in Delaware. By the 1930s, Delaware led the nation in holly wreath production, with the industry employing thousands of workers each season and shipping berried branches as far as New York and beyond. In 1939, the American Holly was officially named Delaware’s state tree. The industry faded when plastic wreaths flooded the market, but the tree remains an important part of Delaware’s ecology.
Harriet Tubman
(1822–1913)
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland. After escaping to freedom, she made dangerous journeys back to the Eastern Shore, leading more than seventy people to freedom — traveling north through Delaware’s marshes, fields, and forests under cover of night. She used the natural world to survive: the North Star, the lay of the land, and the seasonal rhythms of the landscape.
Sweet Goldenrod
Delaware State Herb
Sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora) has grown along Delaware’s coastal marshes, field edges, and open woodlands for thousands of years — it grows in the museum’s own meadow too. In 1996, Delaware’s General Assembly designated sweet goldenrod as the state’s official herb, recognizing both its beauty and its deep roots in Delaware’s landscape. It blooms in late summer and early fall, when its golden plumes attract dozens of native bee species.
Annie Jump Cannon
(1863–1941)
Annie Jump Cannon grew up in Dover, watching the stars from the roof of her childhood home. First hired by the Harvard College Observatory to carry out astronomical calculations, she went on to become known as the “census taker of the sky” for manually classifying more than 300,000 stars — more than any person in history — and creating the star classification system astronomers still use today.
Delaware Diamond
Delaware State Star
The Delaware Diamond sits in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear), at right ascension 9h40m44s and declination 48°14’2″. The star was chosen to celebrate the new millennium and named by twelve-year-old Amy Nerlinger of Wilmington, through a contest held at the museum in 1999. In 2000, Delaware became the first state to register an official state star — a designation that’s ceremonial and not recognized by astronomers.
Captain Jonathan Caldwell
(1742–1781)
When Captain Jonathan Caldwell of Kent County marched off to fight the British in 1775, his men allegedly brought along gamecocks descended from a famous blue hen, bred for their legendary fighting spirit. According to tradition, this earned the soldiers a nickname that stuck: “Blue Hen’s Chickens.”
Blue Hen
Delaware State Bird
The Blue Hen was a source of state pride long before it became an official symbol. By the Civil War era, it appeared in political cartoons and state publications. The University of Delaware adopted it as their mascot in 1911, and on April 14, 1939, the Delaware General Assembly made it official. Delaware and Rhode Island are the only two states whose state bird is a domestic chicken.
Benjamin Silliman
(1779–1864)
In 1802, Benjamin Silliman became the first professor of chemistry at Yale University — before he had ever studied the subject. He taught himself, traveled to Europe to learn, and returned to help build American science from the ground up. He founded the American Journal of Science in 1818, still published today. The mineral sillimanite was named in his honor in 1850.
Sillimanite
Delaware State Mineral
Sillimanite is a rare mineral formed deep in the earth under intense heat and pressure, hundreds of millions of years ago. Its needle-like crystals have a texture similar to wood. In Delaware, sillimanite is found in the rocky Piedmont near Wilmington, where ancient mountain-building events brought it to the surface. In 1977, the Delaware General Assembly, acting on a proposal by the Delaware Mineralogical Society, established it as the Delaware State Mineral.
Delaware Students
The next person to shape the state’s story might be sitting in a classroom right now. Many of Delaware’s state symbols were championed by school children — in addition to the specimens above, students helped get these symbols officially recognized:
Ladybug — State Bug In 1974, second graders at Lulu M. Ross Elementary School in Milford campaigned for the ladybug to become Delaware’s official state bug, led by their teacher, Mrs. Mollie Brown-Rust.
Belemnite — State Fossil In 1996, third graders at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Wilmington took a field trip to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, collected belemnite fossils, and successfully petitioned the legislature to make it Delaware’s official state fossil.
Channeled Whelk — State Shell In 2013, Girl Scout Allyson Willis noticed that Delaware — a state with miles of coastline — had no official state shell. She changed that for her Girl Scout Bronze Award project, collecting signatures and working with state officials. By 2014, the channeled whelk was official.
Gray Fox — State Wildlife Animal In 2010, fourth graders at Joseph M. McVey Elementary School proposed the gray fox as Delaware’s official wildlife animal — arguing it was “always ready, like our soldiers at Dover Air Force Base.” The legislature agreed.
Dryptosaurus — State Dinosaur Dryptosaurus was a large, fast predator that roamed the ancient shores of what’s now the Mid-Atlantic coast roughly 70 million years ago. In 2022, students at Shue-Medill Middle School in Newark worked with museum scientists and state officials to research Delaware’s fossil record, draft House Bill 390, and present it to the General Assembly. Dryptosaurus became Delaware’s official state dinosaur that June.
Stonefly — State Macroinvertebrate In 2005, students from a Wilmington environmental science program proposed the stonefly — an insect whose presence signals clean, healthy water — as Delaware’s official state macroinvertebrate. It was designated that year.
Blue Dasher — State Dragonfly In 2025, Senator Stephanie Hansen launched the Delaware Dragonfly Project, inviting students statewide to submit essays and artwork making the case for their favorite dragonfly species. Students and teachers voted, and the Blue Dasher won.
Revolutionary Stories & Evolutionary Specimens has been made possible in part by a grant from Delaware 250.
World Ocean Day
Did you know that oceans cover more than 70% of our planet, yet remain the least explored parts of Earth?
Oceans regulate our climate, support countless ecosystems, and biodiversity. They’re sources of curiosity and wonder; connecting us globally from coast to coast, protecting our oceans means protecting our future!
On World Ocean Day, we spoke with Dr. Liz Shea in the Oceans Hall at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. She is the Director of Research and Curator of the Mollusk Collection and cares for and grows the museum’s natural history collection, including the 10th largest mollusk collection in North America.
Liz conducts research on specimens within the collection and brings back new discoveries from the field. She specializes in cephalopod biology, with a special focus on the biodiversity of deep-sea canyons and seamounts. Through her research, Dr. Shea helps uncover the beauty of life found in the ocean’s most unexplored environments.
This video is a collaboration between Delaware Museum of Nature and Science and Reich&Petch (R&P). The Oceans Hall is in the Global Journey Gallery, a part of the museum’s metamorphosis and building renovations completed in 2022 by the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science along with Reich&Petch Design International (Exhibit Designer), The Design Foundation (Media Producer), kubik maltbie (Exhibit Fabricator), JacobsWyper Architects (Architect), Bancroft Construction (General Contractor), and Aegis Property Group (Project Manager).
4th annual: 2027 Breaking Into STEAM Career Fair for Middle and High School Students
Breaking into STEAM aims to ignite a passion for exploration, innovation, and curiosity for careers in the STEAM fields for underserved middle and high school students.
Participants learn from local professionals, with insights on their career pathways in the STEAM fields. The students leave with practical knowledge of coursework, salary, and local opportunities to pursue a STEAM career.
Who: Middle and high school students and teachers, along with STEAM professionals from various local organizations.
When: Wednesday, May 19, 2027 | 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Arrival and departure times are staggered for school groups.
Where: Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807
Middle and High School Teachers
Bring your class to the Breaking Into STEAM Career Fair. We have limited funding (including transportation) for qualifying schools! Registration is open for 2027
We’re seeking professionals in STEAM fields to bring an activity and/or tabletop display to engage with the middle school students at Breaking Into STEAM. Community partners will talk about their jobs and career paths with the students.
Check back regularly as the year progresses for updates
The Art of Plant Families
Botanical Paintings by Wendy Hollender
Now on exhibit
Plants share family traits, just as people do. Some have square stems, some curl into tendrils, and others produce flowers, fruits, or scents that connect them to related species. Through detailed botanical illustrations, artist Wendy Hollender reveals these relationships in ways that are both scientific and approachable, inviting visitors to look more closely at the plants that shape our lives and ecosystems.
As a child, Wendy Hollender discovered the magic of plants by picking sweet peas and strawberries in a family garden. That early experience sparked a lifelong fascination with the natural world, one that continues through her botanical illustrations today.
Working directly from real specimens, Hollender combines careful observation with artistic expression to explore the beauty, diversity, and interconnectedness of the plant world. Inspired by her book The Album of Plant Families: An Illustrated Exploration of Nature’s Beauty and Bounty, this exhibition celebrates curiosity, discovery, and the many ways art can deepen our understanding of nature.
About the Artist
Wendy Hollender is a botanical artist, illustrator, author, and educator whose work combines scientific accuracy with a deep appreciation for nature. Her illustrations have appeared in books, museums, gardens, and educational institutions across the country.
OmniPotential Energy partnership brings EV charger to DelMNS
OmniPotential Energy Partners and the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science announce the deployment of a Curbstar electric vehicle charging platform at the museum
The installation expands public access to Level 2 EV charging while supporting the museum’s commitment to science education, sustainability, and community leadership. Curbstar’s stand-alone, utility-side design allows charging infrastructure to be deployed without extensive modifications to host buildings, minimizing disruption while delivering reliable service.
How to use Curbstar
To use Curbstar, download and install the Curbstar Smartphone App (See Apple App store or Google Play store). Once downloaded, you will be prompted to create a user account and to enter a form of payment which will be used for any future charging events at the Curbstar stand-alone EV charging stations.
Curbstar typically has a 20-foot cable reach. Customers should park with their charging port within 20 feet of Curbstar. The smartphone App is aware of the location of nearby Curbstar charging stations. Simply opening the app near a charging station will show the user any plugs available for use, Plug A (on the left) or Plug B (on the right). Customers select the plug they wish to use in the App.
“Deploying new infrastructure requires coordination and attention to detail,” said the museum’s Executive Director Mandy Santiago. “The OmniPotential team worked diligently to ensure our expectations were met, and we are proud to offer EV charging that supports our visitors and aligns with our sustainability goals.”
Curbstar is engineered for durability and uptime, with a vertically integrated hardware and software platform designed to simplify deployment and long-term operation.
“The museum is an institution that represents scientific progress and environmental stewardship,” said Cora Castle, President of OmniPotential. “We are honored to partner with DelMNS to expand practical EV charging access in Delaware.”
The installation reflects a shared commitment to advancing clean transportation solutions that are accessible, reliable, and thoughtfully integrated into community spaces.
On Exhibit: Voices in Flight
Bird songs tell rich stories of territory, courtship, and identity.
Explore these stories in three different ways: photographs of birds captured mid-song, scientific sonograms at the museum that visualize each unique vocalization, and audio recordings here.
Each photograph by Lew Scharpf freezes a fleeting moment as a bird lifts its beak and fills the air with sound. The sonograms, on exhibit at the museum and created by Matthew Halley using software by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, translate those songs into a visual language — patterns of frequency and time that make the invisible audible. Many recordings were made by Dr. Halley, with additional audio from xeno-canto.org.
Song Sparrow
(Thyothorus carolinensis)
The pleasing song of this species is a series of trills and clear whistles. It can be heard in pretty much any open or brushy habitat, including residential neighborhoods and farmers’ fields. They live year-round in Delaware and often form small flocks during the breeding season.
Recorded by Matthew R. Halley on 28 April 2020 in Philadelphia Co., PA.
Great Horned Owl
(Thyothorus carolinensis)
The rhythmic, muffled hoots of this species are uttered at very low frequency (less than 1 kHz) — look for the dark lines at the very bottom of the sonogram.
Recorded by David Darrell-Lambert on 17 May 2019 in Essex Co., ON, Canada.
Northern Flicker
(Colaptes auratus)
The loud “fleer” call of this species often alerts birders to its presence in nearby woodlands. Unlike most woodpeckers, flickers are frequently seen foraging on the ground in open areas, eating ants and other insects.
Recorded by Stanislas Wroza on 21 May 2025 in Portneuf, QC, Canada.
Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
The voice of the Bald Eagle is a series of weak chirping whistles — maybe not what you would expect from a fearsome predator. Because of this, in movies and television programs, the scream of the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is often dubbed in, to make the eagle seem fiercer than it is!
Recorded by Bruce Lagerquist on 16 November 2022 in Clallam Co., WA.
White-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta carolinensis)
The short nasal calls of this species (“yenk, yenk”) can be heard in open woods with mature trees, especially oaks and pines. They cling to the trunks of trees and can even be seen clambering down head-first, peeking under layers of bark for food.
Recorded by Jim Berry on 21 May 2016 in Chautaqua Co., NY.
Downy Woodpecker
(Dryobates pubescens)
Get to know the squeaky “rattle call” of this species and you will soon be hearing it all over the neighborhood. These small woodpeckers are common residents of our local woodlands and gardens, but more often heard than seen.
Recorded by Jim Berry on 24 August 2016 in Chautauqua Co., NY.
Eastern Phoebe
(Poecile carolinensis)
Listen for the “phoebe!” song and its subtle variants (pictured) in early March. This is one of the first migratory songbirds to return to our region in the spring. Scientists have shown with experiments that the song is encoded in the bird’s DNA — no learning required!
Recorded by Matthew R. Halley on 28 April 2020 in Philadelphia Co., PA.
American Robin
(Turdus migratorius)
The song of this common species is a series of short, warbled phrases. Robins can only hear up to about 8.7 kHZ — the dark horizontal line in the sonogram — which means that we could make a high-pitched whistle that humans could hear, but robins could not!
Recorded by Matthew R. Halley on 29 April 2020 in Philadelphia Co., PA.
Red-tailed Hawk
(Poecile carolinensis)
The raspy scream of this species will send shivers down your spine! These hawks are often seen soaring over fields, tracing lazy circles in the sky as they search for food—small mammals are their preference. They often perch on telephone poles and other man-made structures. But take note—immature red-tailed hawks do not have red tails!
Recorded by Allen T. Chartier on 24 June 2008 in St. Clair Co., MI.
Carolina Wren
(Thyothorus carolinensis)
The song of this species is a rolling series of emphatic whistled phrases, usually 3 or 4 syllables long each. For example, you might hear it singing something that sounds like “tea kettle, tea kettle!” or “generator! generator!” It is commonly heard in woodlots throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Recorded by Matthew R. Halley on 22 April 2020 in Philadelphia Co., PA.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
(Melanerpes carolinus)
This common species makes a loud “chhrrrrr” call with a slightly rising inflection. They thrive in open woodlands and often come to backyard suet feeders.
Recorded by Christopher McPherson on 20 May 2019 in Hillsborough Co., NH.
Northern Mockingbird
(Thyothorus carolinensis)
This species is so famous for mimicking the songs of other species that is was given the scientific name “polyglottos,” meaning “speaks many languages.” Sometimes, you will hear mockingbirds singing very late at night. This recording was made after midnight!
Recorded by Matthew R. Halley on 5 June 2022 in Chester Co., PA.
Carolina Chickadee
(Poecile carolinensis)
The song of this familiar species at backyard feeders is a series of four sweet whistles, often referred to by the phrase “fee bee fee bay” or, in this case, “fee bay bay bay.”
Recorded by Thomas Magarian on 13 May 2024 in Page Co., VA.
Pine Siskin
(Poecile carolinensis)
This northern species visits Delaware in the winter and prefers open coniferous forest. Its song is a rapid jumble of husky notes. Look for the “streaky” goldfinch at your bird feeder!
Recorded by Stanislas Wroza on 4 June 2025 in Capitale-Nationale, QC, Canada.
Cedar Waxwing
(Bombycilla cedrorum)
The song of this species is a simple series of high-pitched whistles with an irregular rhythm— “sreeee! sreeee!” The fundamental frequency is usually between 6–8 kHZ. This recording provides a great visual example of Ohm’s Law of acoustics: the first overtone is twice the frequency of the fundamental.
Recorded by Valerie Heemstra on 17 August 2023 in Delta Co., MI.
About the contributors
Lew Scharpf, Ph.D.
Lew Scharpf brings expertise in biochemical research, spanning both industry and academia, to his volunteer work here. He is a musician, photographer and avid birder.
Matthew R. Halley, Ph.D.
Matthew Halley is a scientist, historian, and musician whose work spans evolutionary biology, animal behavior, and the history of science. As the museum’s Research Director and Curator of Birds, he oversees the bird collection and conducts specimen-based research using methods ranging from DNA analysis to audio recording.
