The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County will debut a new exhibition on orcas next month at its Exposition Park location, it was announced Thursday.
The exhibition, titled “Orcas: Our Shared Future,” will open April 26 and explore the lives of the marine mammals through scientific displays, cultural artifacts and multimedia installations, according to museum officials.
The roughly 10,000-square-foot exhibit will feature about 140 artifacts and specimens, including a life-size replica of an orca family and an articulated skeleton of an adult female orca.
Visitors will also encounter artwork by Indigenous artists from the Pacific Northwest Coast highlighting the cultural connections between orcas and First Nations communities, according to the museum.
“Orcas are among Earth’s most complicated, fascinating, and misunderstood beings,” Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, president and director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, said in a statement. “I hope visitors will leave `Orcas: Our Shared Future’ with a deep appreciation for these powerful icons of the seas and the significant role they play in our ocean ecosystems — and our imaginations.”
The exhibition will also examine orca behavior, including social structures and communication, as well as issues such as captivity and the status of various populations, museum officials said.
Programming tied to the exhibit is expected to include panel discussions, family activities and camps for children, along with evening events.
Museum member preview days are scheduled for April 24-25. The exhibition will require a separate ticket in addition to general museum admission, with prices starting at $12 for adults and $6 for children.