“Spiders- From Fear to Fascination”

This winter, Fernbank Museum invites guests to come eye-to-eyes
with the hunting, burrowing and weaving world of spiders in the new special exhibit, “Spiders
— From Fear to Fascination.” Opening Feb. 10, 2024, and featuring over 250 live and preserved
spider specimens, this exhibit will leave audiences with a fascination for these incredible
arachnids.

Guests will be able to explore a detailed display of spiders in all shapes and sizes — from the
intimidatingly venomous Black Window to the famously large Huntsman — through a variety of
curated displays that include using the latest in augmented reality technology to create a fully
immersive experience. Visitors will be able to virtually journey through hundreds of scattering
spiders along a glowing forest floor, bring an animated spider to “life,” compete in a mating
dance-off with a Jumping Peacock Spider and more.
In addition to encountering live spiders, dioramas with taxidermy spiders, panels featuring real
preservations and interactive components, guests will have the opportunity to use the
complementary and free “Spiders Augmented Reality” app to watch spiders come to life by
scanning markers found within the exhibit. Some of the spiders featured in the app include the
Wolf Spider, Trapdoor Spider, Desert Blonde Tarantula and more.

“Spiders evoke a combination of curiosity and horror, fear and fascination alike. The “Spiders —
From Fear to Fascination” exhibit is extraordinary as it makes spiders accessible and appealing,
while still presenting the most up-to-date research and understanding of their biology,” said
Linda S. Rayor, Cornell University, scientific consultant, exhibit manager of live animals, and
President of the American Arachnological Society. “There is no other exhibit on spiders which
has ever captured the magic of spiders so well. With stunning displays, interesting displays
using live and preserved? spiders, and charming games that illustrate how spiders live, this is an
experience that will appeal to anyone who has wondered what spiders are doing.”

Developed by the Australian Museum, “Spiders — From Fear to Fascination” features seven
themed sections audiences can use to build their knowledge of the arachnid animal
classification. These themes include the spider family tree, diet and hunting, diversity of spiders
from across the globe, spiders’ life cycles, their senses, and silk production and weaving.
“Spiders — From Fear to Fascination” is an exhibit that appeals to arachnologists of all ages
who want to face their curious or fearful precognition and explore one of the most oftenmisunderstood species on the planet. This exhibit will be included with General Admission at
Fernbank from Feb. 10 – May 5, 2024. For more information, please visit
https://fernbankmuseum.org/Spiders

“Spiders — From Fear to Fascination” was created by the Australian Museum. Sponsored
locally in part by the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, Inc.
Related Programming
Fernbank will host “Spider Spectacle,” a family friendly Discovery Day, to celebrate the grand
opening of “Spiders — From Fear to Fascination” from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10,
2024. “Spider Spectacle” is sponsored by Novelis.
Additionally, Fernbank Museum will be hosting a live lecture with Linda S. Rayor, Cornell
University, scientific consultant, exhibit manager of live animals, and President of the American
Arachnological Society on Feb. 10, 2024. More details to come at fernbankmuseum.org

Tickets
Exhibits, films and Discovery Days are included with daytime general admission and with
CityPASS. General admission tickets include three floors of exhibits in the natural history
museum, choice of one giant screen film, and 75 acres of nature explorations in Fernbank
Forest and WildWoods. Fernbank After Dark and some other special after-hours events are
available at a separate ticket price and may include access to special exhibits. Fernbank is
located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta, minutes from midtown Atlanta and downtown
Decatur.

For more information, visit FernbankMuseum.org. General admission tickets include a film in
the Giant Screen Theater. Tickets are $25.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors, $23.95 for children
ages 3-12, free for children ages 2 and younger, and free for Fernbank Members. These prices
are for tickets purchased online at FernbankMuseum.org. Tickets not purchased in advance are
offered, if available, at a higher price at the Box Office. More information is available at
FernbankMuseum.org