Evolution Trail

This 1,500-foot loop trail covers 4.6 billion years, from the formation of Earth to the present day. Take the trail to the right, and you go back in time. Take the trail to the left, and you’ll go forward. Trace the evolution of the planet we call home from the appearance of single cell organisms to the emergence of complex early life, to the dawn and death of the dinosaurs, and to the present time. Only at the very end—in the last three feet—does the trail reveal the birth of our own species: Homo sapiens.

The Evolution Trail is generously sponsored by Christiana Care.

Outdoor Features Refreshed

Ever since an EF-1 tornado struck the area in August 2020, the woods behind the museum have been in rough shape. Thanks to the hard work of our facilities team and a grant from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) for new trees, interpretive signage, and seating areas, our outdoor spaces have been refreshed.

A map guides you along the trails. An up-to-date PDF of the outdoor map is available here.

Sit in the John C. Wilson Sr. Wildlife Blind to view birds and other wildlife up close.

Director of Facilities Chris Hayden and Facilities Assistant Anthony Corradin move downed trees along the outdoor paths.

The 2020 tornado left incredible damage to the museum’s outdoor space. We are re-establishing the area by planting new trees, but it will take decades to completely fill in.

Downed trees were cut to border the trail paths.

Explore our Outdoors

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