Albuquerque, NM – The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is pleased to welcome a new traveling exhibition exploring the natural defenses that animals have evolved over millions of years. Animal Armor: The Evolution of Armor in Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals will be on view when the museum reopens this spring. 

“From Ankylosaurus to armadillos, animals have been evolving new ways to defend themselves from predators for hundreds of millions of years,” said New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS) Executive Director Dr. Anthony Fiorillo. “This new traveling exhibition will be just one of the new features visitors can expect when we reopen this spring.” 

Developed by Colorado-based Gaston Design Inc., Animal Armor explores how animals have evolved defensive armor to protect themselves from predators and competition over the last 500 million years. These evolutions have resulted in some of the most beautiful and bizarre adaptations in the animal kingdom. 

In Animal Armor, visitors will have a chance to meet all kinds of ancient and modern armored animals, from beetles and armadillos to prehistoric giant crocodilians and dinosaurs, and to discover how these animals’ built-in defenses have inspired human armor. This exhibition will also include rarely seen specimens from the museum’s Collections, including fossils from Glyptotherium texanum, a giant prehistoric relative of the armadillo, and Deinosuchus, a prehistoric crocodile relative that exceeded 30 feet. 

The exhibition will open when the museum reopens following its ongoing renovation project, slated for Spring 2026. The exhibition will be located on the museum’s first floor. There is no additional fee to explore the exhibit. This exhibition is sponsored in part by Thornburg Investment Management. 

Animal Armor is just one of the changes to the museum that visitors can expect, alongside a new lobby and ticketing area, an expanded gift shop, and updated infrastructure. To learn more about the exhibition and plans for the museum’s reopening, visit nmnaturalhistory.org. 

About the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, through the generous support of donors. Established in 1986, the mission of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is to preserve and interpret the distinctive natural and scientific heritage of our state through extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs designed to ignite a passion for lifelong learning. The NMMNHS offers exhibitions, programs, and workshops in Geoscience, including Paleontology and Mineralogy, Bioscience, and Space Science. It is the Southwest’s largest repository for fossils and includes a Planetarium and a large format 3D DynaTheater.    

Albuquerque, NM – The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is thrilled to announce a new slate of free public programs in local libraries and community spaces to ring in the new year. 

“Since expanding our educational outreach program this fall, we’ve built new partnerships and connected with our community in new ways,” said New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS) Education Director Stephanie Lukowski. “As we move into 2026, we’re excited to launch a new set of programs bringing natural history to life for visitors.” 

Following a successful launch of the museum’s Natural History in your Neighborhood outreach series in September, the museum’s Education team has added a new mix of free programs geared toward all ages and interests. For ages 0 to 8 years old, ‘Dino Discoveries: Carnivores vs. Herbivores’ will take a look at the differences between dinosaurs that ate meat compared to those that ate plants. This hour-long program will include reading a dinosaur related book and exploring fossils and casts that highlight the differences between carnivores and herbivores. 

Meanwhile, tweens ages 9 to 12 will have a chance to learn about caring for insects, reptiles, and amphibians during ‘Critter Care 101.’ During this program, NMMNHS educators will bring live insects and other critters found in the Museum’s Naturalist Center for tweens to observe while learning about how to care for them in the wild and at home.  

Finally, teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 will have a chance to explore space using virtual reality during ‘To the Stars and Back.’ Museum educators will guide teens through an exploration of our night skies, including planets and constellation, through a virtual reality experience. Please note that ‘To the Stars and Back’ requires advance registration and will be limited to 15 participants per session. 

Each of these programs will occur on a rotating basis at public libraries across Metro Albuquerque throughout the winter and spring months. Keep an eye on nmnaturalhistory.org for details to find an upcoming event at a library near you! Libraries interested in participating may email NMMNHS Groups Coordinator Clare Harmon for availability.   

About the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, through the generous support of donors. Established in 1986, the mission of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is to preserve and interpret the distinctive natural and scientific heritage of our state through extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs designed to ignite a passion for lifelong learning. The NMMNHS offers exhibitions, programs, and workshops in Geoscience, including Paleontology and Mineralogy, Bioscience, and Space Science. It is the Southwest’s largest repository for fossils and includes a Planetarium and a large format 3D DynaTheater.