3 days ago
'Unicorn of the Sea' exhibit opens at Minnetrista
MUNCIE, IN — Visitors to Minnetrista Museum & Gardens are invited to "dive into the icy depths of the Arctic this summer" with "Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend," an exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
The exhibit, in Galley B of Minnetrista's center building, opened on July 12. The exhibition runs through Sept. 28.
With its iconic spiral tusk, the narwhal has captured imaginations for centuries — often called the 'unicorn of the sea," according to a news release.
Now, visitors can explore the narwhal's world through immersive displays, hands-on interactives, and visuals that reveal the narwhal's crucial role in both Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous cultures.
'The oceans are full of mysterious and unique creatures that boggle the imagination,' said Sebastián Encina, associate director of exhibition & curation at Minnetrista. 'The narwhal is so unlike many of the animals we are familiar with. Learning about their role in the environment and their place in the culture of the Inuit is important to our understanding of the relationship between humans and animals, and how we can be good stewards of our shared environments.'
At the heart of the exhibition, visitors will find a life-sized, 16-foot fiberglass model of an adult male narwhal suspended from the ceiling. Touchable interactives, audiovisual experiences and firsthand accounts from both Arctic researchers and Inuit community members offer a deeper understanding of how traditional knowledge and scientific research together illuminate the narwhal's mysterious life — and what it can teach us about our planet's shifting climate.
For more information about the exhibit, visit
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Narwhal exhibit opens at Minnetrista
