The Museum of the Earth is the public face of the Paleontological Research Institution, a scientific research organization based in Ithaca since 1932. The museum’s permanent exhibit, “A Journey Through Time,” traces the history of life on Earth through fossils, geological specimens, and interactive displays, with particular strength in the Devonian-era marine fossils that are abundant in the Finger Lakes region’s bedrock. A full-scale right whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling is the most visually striking exhibit.

The Finger Lakes were carved by glaciers, and the museum does an effective job of explaining the geological forces that shaped the landscape visitors are driving through. Rotating exhibits cover topics in paleontology, climate science, and environmental history. The adjacent Cayuga Nature Center, operated by the same institution, offers more hands-on outdoor programming for families. The Museum of the Earth is not a large museum—an hour is enough for a thorough visit—but the connection between its geological exhibits and the actual Finger Lakes landscape makes it more relevant than a typical natural history museum visit.