A school bus pulled up to the entrance of the world-famous museum, Museum of Science, Art, History, and Culture. It was a three story building and housed incredible exhibits that people flock to every day. It contained exhibits about history, mythology, science, art, and space.
"Alright, alright." The teacher said as she came out of the school bus with her class. "Okay, is everyone here?" She asked. The children were talking to their friends within the class. The teacher did a roll call to make sure and entered the museum.
The first sight was the main hall that contained a totem pole behind the administration booth. The structure consists of a red bear, white eagle, and mixture of blue-green and black face from bottom to top.
Some students noticed the totem pole while others weren't as interested and chatted with their friends still. The teacher ushered the students before a tour guide appeared.
"Hello! You must be Mrs. Blair." The tour guide recognized before introducing himself, "The name's Oscar. And I'm the tour guide for your class. Is everyone here?"
Mrs. Blair nodded, wiping her eyebrows. "Yes. It's quite a big class. Will you be able to keep them entertained?"
Oscar gave a kind smile, "Of course. I have a flair to keep my attendees interested in the museum." He began to address the students. "Hello, students! I'm Oscar, your personal tour guide of the internationally famous Museum of Science, Art, History, and Culture or MSAHC for short. We have something for everyone. Whether it's the terrifying dinosaurs of the past, artworks that have gripped the attention of future artists, or learning about the Middle Age."
Each student began to become interested as Oscar smirked. Knowing they were intrigued, he began the tour. He started with the totem pole. "This here is a totem pole. Carved from wood, they are quite popular in Canada and Alaska. From the top to bottom is a face, eagle, and bear. Each is painted with representation. Red means valor, white symbolizes the sky, and blue represents the water." He beckoned them to come along as he began down the main hall.
"First up on our tour, we have cryptids! Only three wax figures but certain people believe they are out there in the world. They just haven't been documented or officially discovered yet." Oscar explained. He gestured to a hairy brown beast that walked on two legs. "The mysterious Bigfoot or Sasquatch! It is believed that such a creature exists in the forests of America. You must have seen those documentaries… although you kids probably wouldn't be interested in such."
Oscar then explained a wax model of a white furred Sasquatch. "And this here is the Yeti. Similar to Bigfoot but likes the freezing tops of Mount Everest! Brrr! Trust me when I say, I wouldn't want to climb up there."
Oscar finally gestured to the last wax cryptid. It was hard to distinguish but it had a slender neck and a face that was a cross between a snake and dinosaur. Its body was large but partially submerged in a body of fake water. "And from all the way from Loch Ness is Nessie the Loch Ness Monster! She's been sighted about once and it spooked people! However, no one was sure if that was true and just some conspiracy. But even then, researchers have been searching for the truth."
The tour guide led the class to their next destination. They entered a room of four mini exhibits. The kids immediately spread themselves out to look at each of them.
Oscar walked over to the first one which depicted a jungle-esque, stone pyramid with miniature people chanting. "Hall of Miniatures. Five designated cultures and depictions of some events. Here's the Mayan civilization, having a sacrifice."
Oscar turned his direction towards a Roman Empire diorama. It was one of a small village in front of a coliseum. "The mighty Romans! A race of noble, courageous, and prideful men. They were always ready for war and trained themselves to be the best."
The tour guide then walked over to a Wild West theme mini diorama. It was a small town with a railroad in the background. "The Wild West, partner. Where the cowboys roam and where the sheriff law is the law." Oscar explained.
The final display had a Chinese landscape with rice fields, a small village, and green valleys. "The calming hills of China. Here we have some rice fields where the locals farm rice for their communities." Oscar explained.
"Now onward to one thing most museums typically have in common: dinosaurs!" Oscar introduced them to the Hall of Dinosaurs. Some were bones and some were realistic. The children's eyes were starry at the sight.
Oscar chuckled to himself, "Everyone is usually awestruck when it comes to this." He then made his way to the largest carnivore in the room. "I'm sure you know this one."
"T-Rex!" The kids said in unison. The T-Rex skeleton was positioned into a roar like pose.
"Correct! The most infamous dinosaur known to man!" Oscar exclaimed. "Big, terrifying, hungry…" he ominously said before clearing his throat, "But lucky for you kids, he's taking a 65 billion year nap!" The tour guide walked over to the next fossil.
A full Triceratops skeleton had been placed in a position with its horns lowered. "The second infamous dinosaur: the Triceratops. A herbivore so it would be best if you were not a leafy green."
The next exhibit was a combination between three different species. There was a Parasaurolophus and an Ankylosaurus near a watering hole. 'Unknowingly' for the hadrosaur, a Velociraptor pack was lurking in the undergrowth.
A skeleton of a Stegosaurus was posed as walking by a skeletal Brachiosaurus. "I bet all of you can identify this dinosaur as well. The one with the plates is a…"
"Stegosaurus!"
"And the one with a really long neck is…"
"Brachiosaurus!"
"You kids are well-educated." Oscar complimented before joking, "Hopefully, none of you come for my job."
On a pedestal laid a realistic looking Dimetrodon, its sail red while the body was green. "One of the earliest dinosaurs ever found." Oscar introduced the class. "A Dimetrodon. Found in the Triassic Period and is known for its sail, like another dinosaur. Unfortunately, the museum put it in storage for the time being. Anyways, let's move on."
Above them was a skeleton of a Pteranodon. The kids didn't notice until Oscar pointed up to it. "The mighty reptile of the sky: the Pteranodon. Fun fact, this is not a dinosaur."
"It's not?" A student questioned.
"Nope. It's a family all on its own called the pterosaur family. This is due to the fact these kinds fly." Oscar explained.
Towards the exit of the Hall of Dinosaurs, there was a Mircoraptor perched on top of it. One student saw it and pointed at it, "What's that dinosaur?"
Oscar looked to where the finger was and provided context. "A Microraptor. The staff has graciously named this little fella Scamper. This dinosaur had the ability to glide, which helped eat insects." With the information given, the class left the Hall of Dinosaurs.
"After the dinosaurs went extinct, mammals such as ourselves began to evolve." Oscar narrated and entered the Paleocene area of the museum. It was centered around different ecosystems: caves, taigas, grasslands, and scrublands.
Four wax Neanderthals were circled around a fire in a cave-like setting. "While we are more advanced than our ancestors, no invention came closer to the discovery of fire! With this discovery, cavemen created more inventions to help with their hunts."
Oscar turned his attention to the giant Wooly Mammoth who seemed to be trumpeting. "One example of their prey was the Wooly Mammoth, a distant ancestor of today's elephants. All the hair on its body helped with the cold weather in the Ice Age."
"However, man had competition. Such as these beasts." The tour guide explained as the class was introduced to three Saber-Toothed Tigers on the prowl. "These cats aren't as cute and cuddly. Especially with their sharp teeth called sabers. Which is why they are called Saber-toothed Tigers."
Following the extinct felines, a separate stand had six Dodo birds, one on top 'flapping' its wings to establish dominance, "Dodo birds! An infamous animal for being extinct like the T-rex and Triceratops. They didn't go fully extinct in the Ice Age as they survived on an island but that changed when explorers hunted them to extinction." Oscar stated.
The next exhibit was about the megafauna of the prehistoric world. An array of four extinct fauna: a Paraceratherium, a Megatherium, a Brontops, and an Elasmotherium. "Back when the land was barely touched by humans, these enormous beasts walked the Earth. While not dinosaurs, they are quite impressive."
"Is that one Sid the Sloth?" One kid asked, pointing to the mega-sized sloth.
"In a way, yes." Oscar clarified. "Just bigger and more accurate."
Rounding off the Pleistocene Hall, they saw a display of an Entendon and Hyaenodon snarling over a carcass. The megafauna meat-eating pig and hyena ancestor scared the kids which made Oscar try to calm them down. "Don't worry, these creatures are long extinct. The Ice Age made sure of that. If these beasts ran amuck today, we wouldn't live to tell the tale."
The next hall was composed of a wooden interior and had several stands that had wax figures. One notable exhibit was the United States of America Flag cased in the middle.
"Hall of American History," Oscar stated. "A hall dedicated to some famous figures that aided the growth of America."
The first wax figure was Theodore Roosevelt on his horse, Tex with a USA flag rippling in the background. "Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the USA." Oscar started his explanation.
The next figure was Sacagawea with a Native American background such as a teepee and wilderness. "Sacagawea, a popular Native American figure who helped Lewis and Clark chart undiscovered lands of America."
The Wright Brothers shared a podium, a black and white photo of their infamous plane, the Wright Flyer, behind them. "These two are the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur. These two are famous for their achievement in building planes. While they used less sturdy material, this would be the start of planes and jets we know today."
Amelia Earhart had been poised to salute, her background similar to the Wright Brothers but with her plane instead, the 'Little Red Bus.' "The legendary Amelia Earhart: The first woman pilot and the first to fly across the Atlantic Ocean."
Frederick Douglas had a stern expression, as if he was posing for a portrait. His background contained various African Americans in the 1800s. "And last we have Frederick Douglas, a notable activist for African Americans in the mid 1800s."
"Besides history, art itself is a crucial part of human culture." Oscar explained, entering a gallery of infamous artworks.
Gracing the hall were tons of paintings from historical moments, abstract to symbolism, and even some inventions/blue-prints. There were also some mini scale of early landmarks like the Ishtar Gate from Mesopotamina and the Lion of Babylon, some cave paintings, and a clay doll.
"Before there were paintbrushes and canvas, people used to use mud for a multitude of works. As time progressed, more types of art were developed. Like in Greece, when architecture came to be." Oscar explained as the class approached the Discobolus.
"This is called the Discobolus: a famous sculpture from the Greek era depicts the olympics."
A few inches away, the Thinker statue and Little Dancer, each with their own plaques to display their sculpting process, inspiration, and their creators.
In glass cases, two famous artists were on display in the form of mannequins: Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh. Both artists had a few of their famous paintings on display behind them.
A mannequin of Leonardo Da Vinci had a blue-print wallpaper of various inventions and designs the inventor created during his lifetime. "While not just an artist, Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most famous figures during the Renaissance Era. Which was rediscovery of the arts and classical philosophy."
The next hall the class came across is the Medieval Age. The room was decorated like the Middle Age with stained glass windows.
"The Middle Age AKA the infamous Medieval times. Where knights are depicted, kings and queens held the biggest events, magic was 'supposedly' real, and legendary artifacts were rumored to give people extraordinary gifts or curses depending on the belief."
A mannequin of Lancelot stood strong and tall. "Next to King Arthur, Lancelot is a notorious figure of this age. Facing every challenge and being chivalrous, Lancelot represents what knights can be."
On her own stand, Joan of Arc held her sword high and helmet off. "Over here is Joan of Arc, a national French heroine with the supposed mystic powers to see into the future."
"Perhaps one of the rarest items in all of history, the Sword in the Stone. Also known as Excalibur." Oscar said, circling said artifact. At least a replica with Excalibur plunged directly into a stone. "It's said to only be pulled out by the worthy. However, you can't test your might or the director will lose it."
A replica of the Loom of Fate, sewn together to its accurate fable description. "The Loom of Fate. This artifact is said to have been weaved through time itself. It knows the past, present, and the future."
Encased in glass boxes, the Holy Grail and Philosopher's Stone displayed their glory. "Here is the Holy Grail and the Philosopher's Stone. The Holy Grail is an artifact to heal any wound. And the Philosopher's Stone that can turn regular metal into gold or silver."
A plaque displayed information about the Knights of the Round Table before a mannequin of Sir Galahad. "The Knights of the Round Table, an order that represented the knights and formed under King Arthur's rule. This here is one of the knights: Sir Galahad, the illegitimate son of Lancelot and Lady Elaine." Oscar said, providing context about the knight before them.
"We wouldn't have gotten to where we are today without the help of science. Hence, the Hall of Science!" Oscar introduced them to the next room.
The room had various science related items. There was a massive periodic table like structure that consisted of all the elements along with some objects that consisted of said elements. Along the wall, there are various videos of the different kinds of energy and atom-based structures showing the electrons, protons, and neutrons of several different elements.
The mannequins of Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison were displayed with their infamous photographs beside them along with model discoveries and inventions. "One of the world's most renowned scientists and an inventor who discovered a way to use electricity as a source of light: Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison."
A series of drawn finches on a wall were behind a model of Charles Darwin, labeled as 'Evolution.' "Without the help of Charles Darwin, we would have never discovered the idea of evolution and natural selection."
A wax model of Marie Curie was sitting elegantly. Her background consisted of black and white photos of herself along with some notes about her discovery. "Women can be scientists too. Marie Curie is one of those examples. With her discoveries in radioactive energy, people learned to study and handle it better."
A portrait of Galileo Galilei had various astronomical-related stickers surrounding it and a telescope positioned in front, roped off from the public. There was a board of information that showed the astronomer's accomplishments. "Galileo Galilei, the first to use a telescope to document planets and our very own moon." Oscar clarified to the class. "Without him, we would have never discovered the fact that Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons, and Venus' phases."
The class and Oscar walked into the next hall: The Hall of Zoology. As a whole, they entered the first section which consisted of animals from North America.
Behind a section of red velvet rope, a stuffed Grizzly Bear was standing up right in the center of the room. "The mighty Grizzly Bear. An animal not to be trifled with due to their claws and size. But they are still omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals."
The next was a forest setting, complete with a White-tailed Deer buck 'grazing' peacefully, a Red Fox 'scurrying' across the forest floor, an American Badger 'snarling,' and a North American Porcupine 'climbing' a tree. "This right here is an average forest habitat. A White-tailed deer gathering food, a Red Fox running about, an American Badger being fierce, and a North American porcupine climbing up a tree. You won't see this in your backyard."
Then there were a few separate exhibits: a pair of Gray Wolves in a snowy biome, a Mountain Lion gazing over the cliffs, an American Beaver in a swamp-like area, a Bobcat and Diamondback Rattlesnake in a desert biome, and a Roosevelt Elk concealed in an autumn forest setting.
A prairie themed exhibit had a massive American Bison and Pronghorn Antelope grazing. The students wowed at the sight of the massive bovine. "Is this a buffalo?" One student asked.
"Oh no," Oscar respectfully said, "This is an American Bison. Same family but different from a buffalo. Bison are found typically in North America and Europe while buffalos are in Africa and Asia."
A Moose and a Wolverine shared an exhibit depicting the Canadian wilderness. "In Canada, these two mammals are common encounters. However, you still don't want to cross them, much like the Grizzly Bear." Oscar explained.
The last exhibit was on a table. Around the table, six birds circled it: a Bald Eagle, a Wood Duck, a Great Horned Owl, a Mallard Duck, a Pileated Woodpecker, and a Peregrine Falcon. Each had their on information. "Around this table, we have an eagle, an owl, two ducks, a falcon, and a woodpecker. These six are found around America and have their own niche in the environment."
The following room was themed after a jungle, considering the number of foliage covering a majority of the scenery. Whether they were real or fake was anyone's guess.
A 'prowling' stuffed Jaguar was stalking a Tapir near a river bed diorama. "Now, we have entered the jungles of the Amazon, located in South America." Oscar introduced the class. "Here we have the local big cat, a Jaguar, on the prowl for a Tapir."
Oscar guided the class to the next exhibit. "The Amazon rainforest is popularly known for its river, which houses a diversity of many different flora and fauna." The river landscape that the museum had showed off various South American animals.
The museum's Amazon landscape contained a Giant River Otter was on a log, a Spectacled Caiman was 'resting' on the top of water, a Silver Arowana was 'swimming' in the stream, a Scarlet Ibis was near the riverbank, and above was a Three-Toed Sloth hanging from a tree.
Another exhibit was depicted as the forest floor of the Amazon rainforest. A Giant Anteater was 'lumbering' about, a Nine-banded Armadillo was digging up grubs, and two Capybaras strolling about. Above the forest floor and on some low bearing branches an Ocelot was lounging on one. "All forests have four layers: the forest floor, understory, canopy, and emergent. This is a forest floor level, complete with some wildlife that can be found on this level."
An exhibit showed the canopy of the rainforest, complete with some primate and bird species. This included a Scarlet Macaw, Hyacinth Macaw, Toco Toucan, Resplendent Quetzal, three Howler Monkeys, and three Capuchin Monkeys in the scenery. "High in trees, different birds and monkeys share the canopy level. The canopy is for some of the more climb-loving mammals or birds."
A river terrarium consisted of a school of Red-Bellied Piranhas and an Amazon River Dolphin. "I thought dolphins lived in the ocean."
"Yes, you are correct." Oscar confirmed. "But this dolphin is more commonly known as the Amazon River Dolphin, a species that lives in freshwater. And these are Piranhas. It's best to be careful if you ever set foot in the Amazon."
Coiled around a tree, a Green Anaconda sat stationary. A Green Iguana was next to it. "The rainforest is also home to many reptiles and amphibians. The one on the right is an anaconda and the one on the left is an iguana, two common reptiles one can find in the Amazon."
A terrarium had an aerial landscape containing a Harpy Eagle and an Andean Condor labeled as 'Birds of Prey.' "These two are birds of prey," Oscar said. "The Harpy Eagle rules over the skies of the jungle while the Andean Condor can be found in the Andes, the world's largest mountain range."
After that exhibit, Oscar brought the class together. "Well, we have been touring the museum for some time now. How about we eat?" The tour guide asked. The kids immediately raised their hands, prompting them to head towards the food court.
The group entered the food court, which consisted of many fast food franchises. The children had bought their own lunches and sat down at a designated table but within their teacher's eyesight.
One student noticed something. "Um… Mr. Oscar?" They said with a raised hand, catching the tour guide's attention.
"Yes?" He asked once he walked over.
"What's that?" They pointed to the Moai Statue that was adjacent to the food court.
Oscar began to explain, "Ah! Yes, the wonderful Moai head. It was donated here from the Easter Islands, back in 1984 when the museum opened 25 years ago. It is quite a sculpture isn't it?"
"I feel like it's staring at me."
"Yes, that can also be a way to view it." Oscar said before returning to eat his lunch.
Once lunch was finished, Oscar and Mrs. Blair's class went back to the Hall of Zoology and reached a new section: the Hall of African Wildlife. "Now that we are back on our tour, let's go on a safari in the continent known as Africa!" Oscar introduced them. This hall had a more open feel with tons of fake grass and a few prop trees.
An African Lion pride consisting of three, one male and two females, looked regal as they posed on a rock. "The king of beasts himself along with two queens!" Oscar said. "Here are the lions, front and center of the entire African section. Magnificent beasts, aren't they?"
A diorama of the Seregenti had various hoofed animals congregated as a herd. Said herd had two Grant's Zebras, two Blue Wildebeests, four Thomson's Gazelles, two Gemsboks/Oryxes, and a Greater Kudu. The herd was either being lookout or grazing. "The vast savannah of Africa is open space and predators tend to attack single prey. So many hoofed animals from large herds with different species, aiding in survival. Take the zebras for example. Their stripes are unique and can cause confusion. And the gazelles are known for jumping to avoid predators."
Next to the herd display was a Maasai Giraffe 'reaching' for an Acacia tree branch. "Now for the world's tallest animal: the giraffe. Reaching for trees, this hoofed animal actually has the same neck bones as humans, which is 7."
An African Elephant in a position of trumpeting had been roped off. The class secretly measured themselves against the largest land mammal. "From tall to large, we have the massive African elephant. He is the largest land mammal recorded and having one here is quite a feat."
A few more savanna-like exhibits could be seen such as one with an Ostrich and Marabou Stork standing proud, a Cheetah resting on a rock, a Black Rhinoceros browsing some bushes, and a pack of four African Painted Dogs keeping to themselves.
In a semi-wetland diorama, a full-grown Hippopotamus was out of the water and a Cape Buffalo showing its horns threateningly. "Africa isn't all savanna. In some places, there are some wetland areas where hippos roam and buffalos wallow."
Two orange desert dioramas appeared next. One had a Warthog 'digging' through dirt while five Meerkats were standing on an elevated dirt mound. The other had a pair of Dromedary Camels, whose heads were adjacent to one another. "And some deserts as well. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world and located in the northern region of Africa."
A minor scrubland area had three Spotted Hyenas 'feasting' on a carcass. "The 'jokesters' of the animal kingdom, hyenas! Despite their dog-like appearances, they are more related to cats."
Further down the African-themed hall, the savannah shifted to a dense jungle like the South American hall. There were three dioramas that portrayed different species.
The first one contained a silverback Lowland Gorilla and a Mandrill standing on a log. "The mighty ape known as the gorilla live in Africa, along with a few other monkeys like this mandrill."
The second one depicted Madagascar as it said on the info panel. It had a Ring-tailed Lemur grasping on a branch while a Fossa walked past its prey. "Based of the island Madagascar, we have a lemur and a fossa, two native animals found on this island. And they like to 'move it, move it'." Oscar joked.
The third one had an odd creature, as the entire class had never seen such an animal before. An Okapi positioned as it was about to eat off some leaves. "Mr. Tour Guide? What animal is that?" A student asked the question in everyone's mind.
Oscar noticed the students' confusion and provided context. "This animal is called an okapi. The only known living relative of the giraffe."
"I thought it was related to a zebra." One kid spoke up.
"A common mistake." Oscar replied. "They are rare so one has a slim chance to find one in the wild."
"From Africa, we go to Asia." Oscar revealed as they left the Africa section of the Hall of Zoology. They entered the Hall of Asian Wildlife which was a mixture of bamboo forest, grasslands, and jungle.
The animal that took center of this section was a pair of Bengal Tigers crouching on a rock with some foliage on the outer rim. "When it comes to Asia, tigers are the first thing that come to mind. These cats use camouflage with their stripes to blend in with the jungle."
A series of awes from the girls caught Oscar's attention. He didn't need to know what they were looking at. "I take it that someone found our yin-yang." A stuffed Giant Panda 'snacking' on a bamboo shoot. "Yep, that's our Giant Panda. An adorable bear that resides in Asia. Unfortunately, they are endangered."
"Why? Who would harm this cute bear?" A student questioned.
"Not physically." Oscar clarified. "Through the destruction of their habitat by people. It's not right to remove these creatures out of their habitat."
Some terrariums lined the wall: an Indonesian island setting with a Komodo Dragon walking about, an Asian floodplain biome with an Indian Rhinoceros, a forestry landscape with a Babirusa and Amur Leopard sharing the exhibit, and a Sun Bear standing on two legs like the Grizzly Bear in the North America.
A female Asian Elephant was on a flatten stand, displayed as scrublands. "The Asian Elephant. One can tell due to the size of her ears. They are smaller than their African counterparts. However, in India, some people have domesticated elephants in a way."
In a snowy peaks diorama, a Snow Leopard 'climbed' the rocks. "Not all of Asia is jungle or grassland. Asia has the tallest mountain known to man: Mount Everest and its range, the Himalayas. Up there, you need air. And this Snow Leopard has adapted to survive in such an environment."
A Bornean Orangutan held itself together between two trees. "Another great ape of the world: the orangutan. Found in Asia but are endangered due to habitat loss. A sad subject."
On a table, a stuffed Indian Peafowl and King Cobra had been placed in an upright position. "Lastly for the Asian exhibits, there is a peacock and cobra. Both have their own form of royalty, with peafowls and their tail feathers and cobras being known as the king of snakes. Even this species is called a King Cobra."
"Now, how about the world down under, mate?" Oscar said in an Australian accent, "One of the two continents found in the southern hemisphere." The tour guide went into the room first. The hall was themed after the Outback with orange colored sand, Australian fauna, and of course stuffed animals.
A mob of three Red Kangaroo were positioned around each other and the first thing that the children noticed. "I suppose I don't need to tell you who these fellas are." Oscar started.
"Kangaroos!" The class answered.
"Right you are! Only native to Australia, kangaroos are known for their jumping and boxing abilities. Makes them a tough animal in the dangerous outback." Oscar informed them.
A pack of Dingos was a distance away from the Red Kangaroo mob. A pair of Emus were 'guarding' a nest on another outback exhibit.
Small terrariums contained more wonders of the World Down Under. A Duck-billed Platypus could be seen swimming, an Echidna scrounging through dirt, a Frilled Lizard showing off its intimidation, and a Taipan raised, primed to strike. "Australia has, perhaps, the world's most outrageous animals. The odd looking platypus, the egg-laying echidna, the small yet intimidating frilled lizard, and the venomous taipan."
A woodland on the forest floor had two Tasmanian Devils fighting over a bone. Oscar leaned down, "These little fellas are known as Tasmanian Devils. Located on Tasmania Island, near Australia. These little tikes are capable of crushing bones with their jaws. And are considered nature's recyclers."
On a tree stump, a Koala stared at its observers. The class awed at the sight of the gray marsupial. "Ah, koalas." Oscar began, "Nature's own little teddy bears. They are marsupials like kangaroos though, not actually bears. A common misconception."
Off a branch, a stuffed Flying Fox hung upside. The students looked up, some terrified of the bat. "No need to fear, it's not a vampire bat. This is a Flying Fox. And they commonly eat fruits, not blood." The kids absorbed this information, gratefully that the bat consumed fruits and not blood.
A Saltwater Crocodile laid in a mangrove exhibit, mouth opened wide. "The Saltwater crocodile. Infamous for being the world's largest reptile. And its known to live in both fresh and saltwater, making it quite adaptable." With that said, the class left the Australian area and headed to the next area.
"This next hall is quite chilly, so let's hope you brought a coat of some sort." Oscar quipped. A brief breeze caught the class off guard. Once they made their way inside, the interior was themed after the tundras of the Arctic and the polar caps of Antarctica.
A stuffed Polar Bear held its spot on the iceberg it was stationed on. "The mighty Polar Bear, Earth's largest land carnivore. Native to the North Pole and only live in the cold climate, which helps with their white fur since it enables them to blend in with the landscape."
Next to the polar bear another stand housed an animal famous for living in the cold. Huddled together, six Emperor Penguins shared a single iceberg stand. "Polar bears live in the North while penguins live in the South. So, these two would never meet each other in the wild."
They came across a small terrarium that lacked glass but still had the same chilly atmosphere with all the fake snow. Inside was a Snowy Owl about to pounce and a Snowshoe Hare avoiding it. In another small exhibit, an Arctic Fox was seen 'digging' through the snow.
On a semi-grassy snowy exhibit, three Caribous and a herd of four Musk Oxens were placed. "Not everywhere in the polar regions is all ice. Some areas have grass which is where these fellas graze."
"Is that a reindeer?"
"Not quite, a caribou actually." Oscar said, "But it does fly." He finished with a wink, trying to keep the magic of Santa Claus alive in the class' eyes.
A Leopard Seal, an Antarctic Fur Seal, and a Walrus were divided by glass but their section contained information about pinnipeds. "Seals are more than just animals that clap their flippers." Oscar narrated, doing a little seal impression that earned giggles from the class. "Like the Leopard seal which hunt penguins in Antarctica, making them vicious. Then the walrus, with their tusks and body, are heavy and hit hard. Their fat allows them to survive in the cold climate of the Arctic."
Looking up, everyone saw the massive Humpback Whale above them. Oohs and aahs were heard as they entered the Hall of Oceanography.
"Yes, our Humpback Whale gets that reaction too many times." Oscar chuckled. "Anyways, the Hall of Oceanography! A large assortment of ocean wildlife within. As you can see, we have a Humpback Whale, found in the cool oceans of the Northern Hemisphere. Don't worry, they only like krill, small shrimp-like creatures."
Walking down the stairs, on the right, one could see a school of tropical fish with an Atlantic Sailfish chasing them. "The Atlantic Sailfish. Far different than a swordfish, for those wondering. The Blue Marlin is clocked as the fastest fish in the world."
On the left, a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins were 'swimming' together. "And of course, dolphins! One of the world's most intelligent animals. A group of dolphins or whales are referred to as a pod." Oscar said, continuing down the stairs.
Heading down, the class spotted several marine wildlife suspended in air: a Blue Tuna, a Japanese Spider Crab, an Atlantic Goliath Grouper, a Footballfish, a Leatherback Sea Turtle, and a Dugong.
Another massive whale was above, this one a Sperm Whale. However it was entangled with a Giant Squid. "Two of the monsters of the deeps, the Sperm Whale and Giant Squid. Not much is known but many people speculate that these Sperm Whales eat squids, even the colossal ones."
Some fenced off areas showed some animals that can survive on the coast. A Sea Otter was 'floating' on its back with a clam in its hands, a Green Sea Turtle laid on the sand, a Brown Pelican landed on a dock-like area, and three Southern Elephant Seals with the male 'roaring' to the sky.
In a terrarium labeled "Seabirds", a Magnificent Frigatebird and Blue-footed Booby were the main attraction. "The fish, mammals, and reptiles don't just own the sea. There are a few birds who live along the coast or islands. The frigatebird and booby are two examples. Along with the pelican in the coastline exhibit."
A Great White Shark, a Whale Shark, a Bull Shark, and a Tiger Shark hung over an area dedicated to their family. The kids were scared but Oscar assured them. "Don't worry, these sharks won't bite. After all, this is a museum. You can look around at the facts of sharks here. Which are very informative about these species."
A section for aquatic invertebrates had a Giant Pacific Octopus, a Cuttlefish, and a Portuguese Man-o-War. "From the depths, there are some animals that have no backbones at all. These are invertebrates. The octopus and jellyfish are well known in this family."
"What about that one?" A student asked, pointing at the cuttlefish.
Oscar leaned down, explaining. "That's a cuttlefish. And no, you cannot cuttle with it. They are one of the world's uniquest animals. With the way they eat, how they camouflage, and much more."
Towards the exit, a Killer Whale was suspended in the air. "I'm sure you know what animal this is."
"An orca!" One stated.
"Yes, or Killer Whale." Oscar clarified. "One the ocean's apex predators. Found in oceans all around, they hunt seals, fish, even sharks or whales at times."
"Now be warned," Oscar advised, "The next hall we visit contains the creepy crawlies of our world." Once the class entered, the girls found themselves hiding behind Mrs. Blair while most of the boys were in awe.
A massive Praying Mantis towered over the guests and tour guide. This was the greeting of the Hall of Entomology or Insects. Along the walls were staples of various butterflies and moths. "Insects. The world's eight legged and sometimes more wonder. This family has the most species known to man.
A massive Monarch Butterfly was above a small screening area that showed the process of a caterpillar to butterfly. A few artworks graced the interior as well, paintings of various butterfly wing patterns. "The process from caterpillar to butterfly, a long process for them. I'm sure you have had that one lesson where you get caterpillars and once they turn into butterflies you release them."
"We just had it last week." Mrs. Blair informed the tour guide.
"Well done." Oscar applauded. The next giant insects were a Hercules Beetle and Rhinoceros Beetle. The class were able to walk through both beetles, although it was still nerve-wrecking.
Entering a honeycomb area, a giant Honey Bee statue had buzzing noises coming from it to give the impression it was making that noise. "When it comes to bees, no other animal makes honey like them. They are what we call pollinators. Meaning they use the pollen from flowers and spread it to help the environment." Oscar gestured to the exit of the Hall of Zoology.
"Away from real world animals and onto the belief of myths and fantasy creatures!" Oscar exclaimed once they entered the Hall of Mythology. They started with a mythological creatures room.
Around them were various mythical creatures. In the center of it all was a fountain with a bronze colored mermaid sitting elegantly with her tail curled. "Mermaids, singers of the ocean."
In a forest biome, an elf with leaf clothing and a hand-sized fairy 'hovered' around each other. Nearby, a Centaur was reared up. "The small elf, glittering fairy, galavant centaur."
In a cliff-like area, a wax griffin stood proudly over its territory. A rock-like Golem was also seen, no bigger than the African elephant in the Hall of Zoology. "The prowling griffin, giant golem."
On a flower field, a Pegasus 'stood' still, wings extended. "The magnificent pegasus."
Carved from concrete, a Cherub/Cupid was a part of a structure. A Gargoyle as well, looming over its own structure. "The romantic cupid, loaming gargoyle."
A wax Harpy figure was above the room, to look as if it was flying. "The terrifying harpy."
In a cave-like exhibit, a merchant mannequin was in awe of a Genie from a lamp. "Wish granting genie."
"And the mighty dragon!" Oscar finished, gesturing to the orange Dragon, posed to look terrifying. The beast was the same height as the African elephant.
"Does it breathe fire?" One student asked.
Oscar denied it. "Nope. Otherwise, it would be a safety hazard. Let's be on our way, more mythology to learn about."
The next room in the Hall of Mythology was based on the legendary Scandinavian or Norse myths. It was themed after Asgard with a golden interior and had tons of wax figures fitting both Norse deities and creatures.
One was of Odin, dressed in his regal armor and wielding a staff in one hand. Frigga was at his side, in cerulean blue robes that extended far behind her.
"The All-Father Odin and his wife Frigga grace us with their presence." Oscar praised. "Odin is known as the supreme deity. And with their two children."
"That looks like one of the Avengers!" One student exclaimed as he pointed to the wax figure of Thor Odinson, who looked nothing like he did in the films, more akin to Norse mythology. (God of War 4 design)
Oscar chuckled. "Yes, Thor is infamous for that appearance. However, this Thor is more accurate to Norse mythology. He is known as the God of Thunder, Sky, and Agriculture to Scandinavian folklore."
Next was Loki Laufeyson with a large wolf named Fenrir and an eight legged horse named Sleipnir. "And here is his 'brother,' Loki. Who, if you have seen the movies, is not really Odin's son. However, the wolf and horse are his children." Noting the confused looks, Oscar decided not to go into detail. "Moving on."
The white head of Jourgamdur, the legendary world serpent's head, was mounted on the wall. "The World Serpent. Rumored to be coiling around the entire planet according to the Norse folklore."
A wax figure of Balder Odinson was poised in golden armor. "Another one of Odin's sons, Balder Odinson. Also known as Balder the Brave. He is associated with light and beauty."
Ending the room was the World Tree with Hugin and Munin, Odin's two loyal crows, perched on the tree. "And this here is the World Tree. A common belief in Norse Mythology is that this tree holds the fabled Nine Realms together." A chorus of wow was heard before Oscar led them to the next room.
"Away from Norway we go, onto the lands of Ancient Greece!" Oscar introduced the class.
The Greek Hall had been made to resemble the Pantheon, even having half a replica of the structure. Marble statues of infamous Greek deities lined the hallway and many were impressed.
The marble statue of Zeus was the first the class saw. "Zeus! The king of gods and God of Thunder and Sky in Greek mythology. With his mighty thunderbolt, he earned his title." The kids were in awe of Jupiter before getting their attention directed to two more deities.
The next deities made of marble were Poseidon and Hades. "Poseidon, God of the Sea, and Hades, ruler of the Underworld. They are both brothers of Zeus." Oscar narrated.
A replica of Hephaestus had an anvil, fitting for the Greek god of forging. "Hephaestus, Greek god of blacksmith. He has made many weapons for his brothers and sisters on Mount Olympus."
The last two marble Greek Gods were Hermes and Athena, the former in a sprinting position and the latter with a spear and dressed in armor. "Hermes here is the messenger of the gods. Athena, on the other hand, is the goddess of wisdom and victory to the Romans and Greeks."
The second to last Hall of Mythology exhibit was themed more around Asian folklore. It had a Chinese-esque house with a few cherry blossoms and a small pond. A jade dragon statue graced this place with its presence.
"The world of Asian folklore. Perhaps one of the museum's most serene places." Oscar claimed.
The first was a wax figure of a Kitsune, her nine tails unfurled and looking proud. "The kitsune, a nine-tail fox that leads the spirits."
Next was a Qilin 'grazing' the grass it was eating on. "A qilin which is a horse in Chinese that appears at the birth of a ruler."
Then there were a few Dijiangs bunched together on a hillside. "These are dijiangs, creatures seen as chaos in Chinese folklore."
"Where are their eyes?" A student asked.
"I'm not entirely sure." Oscar admitted.
Finally, a Shishi radiated proud energy as it poised like a lion. "And this here is a Shishi lion or sometimes a dragon. A noble protector who guards the temples of Asia."
The end of the Hall of Mythology began to have a desert-esque feel with various hieroglyphics painted on the walls. Soon they entered a tomb with a large Sphinx as the entrance. "Out of the world of Chinese folklore and into the ancient Egyptian culture. This is the intelligent sphinx. In mythology, the sphinx likes to ask riddles and those who get it right earn the chance to enter the tomb/pyramid."
Once they entered the tomb, statues of several Egyptian deities. Each was paired together and had plaques displaying their name, representation, and abilities.
The first two were Ra and Set.
The next two were Osiris and Horus.
The last two were Anubis and Bastet.
Oscar didn't spend too much time on them, instructing the class to come along. Various Egyptian-themed antiques lined the hallway, even some sarcophaguses. "These coffins were how the royalty were buried and locked in special tombs due to their riches. And inside are mummies." Oscar said in a suspenseful tone. "However, there are no mummies in these."
A replica of the popular Egyptian Queen Cleopatra herself sat on a royal golden throne, fit for her status. "This is Queen Cleopatra, an infamous royal figure of Egypt. She is quite the popular woman figure and Egyptian icon next to King Tut."
Towards the end, Oscar introduced them to their latest exhibit. "And at the end of the Hall of Mythology is our newest exhibit: the Tablet of Ahkmenrah. An artifact recently donated to us. It's rumored to have magical properties however it has never been documented. We are lucky to put it on display in a new wing of the Egyptian Hall." Oscar said. After that, the tour guide rounded them out of the Hall of Mythology to their final destination.
The final stop of their tour was the planetarium of the museum. There was a miniature solar system in the room before, showing the planets and their distance from the sun.
"Space. The untamed frontier. I'm sure you know about aliens but there has been no life found other than us… yet." Oscar said, wanting to inspire some future astronauts. The students were in awe once more.
Above, the planetarium had a few constellations mapped out. On an informative tablet, the students read up on them. Oscar identified them all, thanks to his knowledge, "We have constellations, which is a group of stars that map out a certain person or animal. There is Orion the Hunter, Leo Major the Lion, Ursa Major the Bear, Sagittarius the Centaur, Scorpio the Scorpion, Taurus the Bull, Cancer the Crab, Cygnus the Swan, and Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. Most are Zodiac signs, a sign that people can identify with during their birthday. It happens during a certain length of days."
The other exhibit was a NASA rocket structure with an astronaut on the side to make it look like it was entering. "This right here is Benny the Astronaut, a name that the staff came up with again. He's about to 'go to space.' And that specialized suit helps him survive on the moon." Oscar explained. With that, he led the class back to the entrance.
Walking back to the entrance and gift shop, they passed a door that descended to the basement. It was only accessible by staff members and blocked off so no one could access it. Oscar clapped his hands together. "Well, this concludes our tour for the day. I hope you all learned something from your time here."
The teacher looked at the time before saying, "Yes. I bet we did. It's time to go back to the school."
"Aaahhhh." The kids whined, clearly they enjoyed themselves and didn't want to return to school.
"What do we say to Mr. Oscar?"
"Thank you!" The class said together.
The children all turned to get on the bus. But one student couldn't help but stare in wonder at the museum.
Something was secretly calling him to come back one day.
A/N: I admit... this was a LONG first chapter. I just wanted to show off what exhibits there are in this museum. Honestly could have split into two chapters.
I've been working on this story off and on.
New story. I like the "Night at the Museum" franchise and recently read a few fanfics about it. Got me inspired to write one myself.
On top of that, "The Librarians" is a show that covers magical artifacts around the world with different mythology, scientific accomplishments, etc. by great minds, mythological figures, and more.
So, that's just some trivia.
Not sure how often this story will be updated however.
No flames.