The Durham Museum Announces its 2025 Exhibit Schedule
The museum is thrilled to host, for the first time, a tactile image experience, beginning the year with Abraham Lincoln: President, Emancipator, Corporate Pitchman. The exhibition offers a transformative multi-sensory exploration of one of America’s most notable figures. In February, The Durham will be taken over by dinosaurs with the arrival of Antarctic Dinosaurs, which dives into the history of the “Lost Continent” and the animals that inhabited it millions of years ago. An “animated” summer awaits with the arrival of Animation Academy: From Pencils to Pixels®, which takes visitors on an immersive ride through their favorite cartoons and the fascinating realm of animation. The year ends with HOCKEY, Faster Than Ever, an exhibition that will have sports fans and science enthusiasts cheering from the front-row seats!
A complete list of exhibits and their descriptions are listed below in chronological order.
Abraham Lincoln: President, Emancipator, Corporate Pitchman
January 25 – April 27, 2025
The Durham Museum is honored to host an exhibition developed by Tactile Images in association with the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Getty Images, the National Federation of the Blind, and the Alliance for Inclusive Design and Experiences (AIDE) to bring a transformative tactile exhibition entitled Abraham Lincoln: President, Emancipator, Corporate Pitchman to our community. This partnership marks a significant milestone in enhancing accessibility, empowerment and inclusivity for individuals with diverse abilities.
Abraham Lincoln: President, Emancipator, Corporate Pitchman offers an innovative and immersive multi-sensory exploration of one of America’s most iconic figures. Through tactile displays and detailed imagery, the exhibition sheds light on Lincoln’s multifaceted roles – as a president who led the United States through the Civil War, an emancipator who took pivotal steps toward abolishing slavery and a corporate figure who, posthumously, became a symbol in modern advertising.
Visitors are invited to engage with Lincoln’s legacy in ways that appeal to both the senses and the intellect, with tactile images enhancing the experience for all audiences, including those who are blind or visually impaired.
What is a “Tactile” image? A tactile image harnesses the senses of touch, sound and smell to help the blind and visually impaired community experience visual knowledge in a meaningful way. Having worked extensively with the blind community, Tactile Images’ patented technology allows the visually impaired to create accurate mental pictures of visual imagery without the need for a sighted companion. Learn more at www.tactileimages.com.
Antarctic Dinosaurs
February 15 – May 4, 2025
Transport back in time and embark on a dramatic adventure to Antarctica to witness the latest discovery: dinosaurs!
While Antarctica is a frozen land of snow today, Antarctic Dinosaurs reveals the lush habitat it once was 200 million years ago and the unique animals that called it home. Visitors will learn about rare dinosaurs and the history of the continent with real fossils and engaging interactives.
The only exhibition of its kind to showcase holotypes of dinosaur fossils, Antarctic Dinosaurs immerses visitors in the thrilling hunt for never-before-seen fossils and sheds light on our planet’s ever-changing climate and geology. Come face-to-face with large-scale replicas of dinosaurs, and explore touchable casts and interactive 3D models that bring Antarctica’s unique species to life. Then witness the persistent challenges and extreme conditions of expeditions to the “Lost Continent” to gain an understanding of the tough working conditions for scientists who rely on an arsenal of modern power tools to extract fossils from rock and bring these discoveries to light.
Antarctic Dinosaurs was developed by the Field Museum, Chicago, in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Discovery Place – Charlotte, NC, and the Natural History Museum of Utah. Generous support was provided by the Kenneth C. Griffin Charitable Fund.
Animation Academy: From Pencils to Pixels®
May 31 – August 31, 2025
Prepare to step into your favorite Saturday-morning cartoons and explore the remarkable world of storytelling through animation.
Animation Academy: From Pencils to Pixels® is a captivating and immersive exhibition that invites visitors of all ages to leap into the fascinating realm of entertainment. This unique showcase provides a rare in-person glimpse into the magic behind some of the most treasured animated films, cartoons and characters, and offers a comprehensive look at the art, science, technology and history of animation.
See the world’s largest 3D zoetrope, strike a pose with Po from Kung Fu Panda, and meet Gumby, the beloved, green, clay humanoid and his sidekick Pokey. Relive timeless moments from classic Disney films, groundbreaking Pixar creations and the latest blockbusters. Venture through the dynamic stages of the animation process and discover animation’s profound impact on our culture and how it revolutionized the landscape of the entertainment industry.
Animation Academy: From Pencils to Pixels® was produced by Stage 9 Exhibits and is distributed by Exhibits Development Group.
HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever
October 4, 2025 – January 11, 2026
The Durham Museum is ready to drop the puck on a highly interactive exhibit on the science, history and culture of one of the “coolest” sports in the world.
HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever takes visitors on an exciting journey through the evolution of ice hockey, showcasing the remarkable technical advancements and scientific breakthroughs that have shaped the sport over time. From cutting-edge technologies to the physics of play, the exhibition will leave guests amazed by the fusion of science and sport.
Visitors will test their skills and knowledge like true hockey pros with a variety of exciting interactives and can get up close to the most coveted trophy in sports history. The exhibition also features an impressive locker room outfitted with jerseys and more from NHL star players.
Produced by Flying Fish, a renowned creator of traveling exhibitions, in collaboration with the Montreal Science Centre and supported by the NHL and the NHLPA, HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever is a must-see for sports enthusiasts and science lovers.
Learn more at DurhamMuseum.org/upcoming-exhibits.
