#MineralMonday: Amethyst in Agate 💜
This striking specimen shows two forms of quartz in one piece- purple amethyst crystals growing inside a banded agate. Both are varieties of the mineral quartz, but they form in slightly different ways as mineral-rich fluids fill cavities in volcanic rock.
🎨 Call for Artists!
Kenosha Public Museum invites artists to apply for the 2026 Acrylics Biennial, a juried exhibition presented in partnership with the ISAP.
Held every 2 years, the show highlights 45 pieces showcasing the incredible range of subjects, styles, & techniques possible in acrylic.
Kenosha Museums Collection A–Z: Q is for Quinine 💊
Quinine, derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, was widely used in the 19th century to treat malaria and reduce fevers, an important medicine for soldiers during the Civil War.
🦈 Closing this Sunday!
The World of Sharks is your last chance to dive into the surprising, misunderstood world of sharks—older than dinosaurs and more threatened than threatening.
Catch it before it swims away from the Kenosha Public Museum.
Civil War Innovation & Technology, on view now at the Kenosha Civil War Museum through June 7.
There are 5 in total!
🦕 Did you know?
Pterosaurs weren’t actually dinosaurs.
They lived at the same time as dinosaurs, but pterosaurs belonged to a different group of reptiles. Their bodies were built differently, especially their wings, which were supported by one extremely long finger instead of feathered arms.
A-Z Kenosha Museums Collections: P-Portable Medicine Chest
Medicines given to Civil War soldiers were often more dangerous than the disease itself. Many were poisonous if given in large doses, such as Calomel - a toxic, mercury-based med used to treat diarrhea, dysentery & typhoid fever.
It's Fossil Fact Friday! The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus had an estimated wingspan of up to 33–36 feet, about the length of a school bus.
🔬🦖 Happy Birthday, Charles Darwin!
Born on February 12, 1809, Darwin helped us understand how life changes over time. His ideas still guide how scientists study fossils, and how dinosaurs are connected to today’s birds.
✨ #MineralMonday: Fluorite with Calcite
Today we’re showcasing a stunning specimen of fluorite with calcite from the Minerva #1 Mine in Hardin County, IL. This classic American mineral pairing features vibrant, gemmy fluorite crystals alongside lustrous calcite, creating a striking contrast.
Snowy days call for prehistoric discoveries. 🦖
At the Dinosaur Discovery Museum, explore real fossils, hands-on exhibits, and the science behind how dinosaurs evolved into modern birds - all indoors and ready to explore.
This Black History Month, we’re highlighting Black innovators who shaped STEAM.
First up: Science 🧪
Dr. Marie Maynard Daly was the first Black woman to earn a PhD in chemistry. Her research helped establish the link between cholesterol and heart disease - shaping modern medicine to this day.
It's time for another Fun Fossil Fact Friday!
Ichthyosaur babies were born tail-first. If they had been born head-first, they would have drowned before they could reach the water's surface to take their first breath 💨
🦄🐋 Narwhal Fun Fact
The iconic narwhal tusk isn’t a horn - it’s actually an extra-long tooth which can grow up to 10 feet long! It's packed with nerve endings, helping narwhals sense changes in water temperature, pressure, and their surrounding environment, making it as useful as it is unusual.
This week’s #MineralMonday feature is okenite in basalt. Okenite forms delicate, cottony white spheres inside volcanic basalt, creating a striking contrast between soft, fibrous crystals and hard, dark rock, an eye-catching example of how minerals grow in volcanic environments!
🦈 Sharks: Big and Small
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world, growing up to 60 feet long!
At the other end of the scale, the pocket shark and dwarf lanternshark are so tiny that you could hold one in your hand.
The World of Sharks is at the Kenosha Public Museum through March 1.
-40 wind chill? We may need to borrow this for a couple of days 🥶
A-Z of the Kenosha Museum Collections: Oviraptor Egg 🥚🦖
This fossilized egg offers a rare glimpse into dinosaur reproduction. Once thought to belong to a "sneaky egg thief", Oviraptor was later discovered to be a caring parent, often preserved sitting atop its nest, much like modern birds.
How many Easter eggs can you find in The World of Sharks? 🤔 Hint: there are more than 2!
Great white shark teeth are built for power. Serrated edges help slice through tough prey, and sharks can go through thousands of teeth in a lifetime. With up to seven rows of teeth at a time, new teeth move forward like a conveyor belt as old ones fall out. World of Sharks on view through March 1!
💎 #MineralMonday 💎
These sparkling crystals are quartz, often called “Herkimer diamonds.” Despite the name, they aren’t diamonds at all—they’re double-terminated quartz crystals known for their exceptional clarity.
New look in the KPM staircase!
Our display cases have been refreshed - each one now features a different collection from the Kenosha Public Museum. Take the stairs next time you visit and explore along the way.
School’s out - dive in! 🦈
Explore “The World of Sharks” at the Kenosha Public Museum during Christmas break. A fun, fascinating adventure for curious kids and families.
bit.ly/KPM_Exhibits
This Christmas Eve, we’re looking back to the very first Christmas card. In 1843, Sir Henry Cole commissioned John Callcott Horsley to make a holiday greeting, starting a tradition that would soon spread around the world.
The Museums will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 🎄
#MineralMonday 🎄
Getting coal for Christmas isn’t so bad - coal powered homes, industry, and change for generations.
The tradition? Naughty kids in Europe got coal in their stockings, a warning that made its way to the US in the 19th century. Even the “naughty” got something useful under the tree!
It's a chilly Fun Fossil Fact Friday ❄️ Dinosaur fossils have been found on every continent—even Antarctica. Some of the most famous discoveries have come from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, Argentina’s Patagonia region, and North America’s Badlands.
Reindeer = caribou? Yep! 🦌
They’re called reindeer in Eurasia (often domesticated, like Santa's) and caribou in North America (always wild).
Something fin-tastic is happening at the Kenosha Public Museum 🦈
World of Sharks is officially open! Dive in and discover the science, myths, and amazing adaptations of sharks.
