What did New Mexico look like before the time of the dinosaurs?

The 3,000-square-foot Bradbury Stamm Construction Hall of Ancient Life at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science tells the story of 300 million years of evolution featuring never-before-seen fossils from ancient fish, amphibians, invertebrates, reptiles, and more uncovered across the state.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibit being contructed in the weeks before its grand opening with Spencer Lucas, Curator of Paleontology, and Matt Celeskey, Curator of Exhibits. (Then go see the exhibit fully assembled!)

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

The Bradbury Stamm Construction Hall of Ancient Life

Before the Famous Fossils: Ancient Life in the Paleozoic Era in New Mexico article in Spring 2025 issue of El Palacio

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Hosted by Emily Withnall, editor at El Palacio MagazineExecutive Producer: Daniel Zillmann Technical Director & Post-Production Audio: Edwin R. RuizEditor & Production Manager: Alex RieglerAssociate Producer & Editor: Monica Braine (Assiniboine/Lakota) Theme Music: D'Santi Nava

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