Dynamic Earth is a fascinating science museum that provides fun and education for all ages. Take a journey through the history of mining, pan for gold, handle a colourful collection of rocks and see one of the world’s biggest coins. Discover major cataclysmic incidents that have impacted the world and hear about the historical events that shaped Sudbury.
As you enter Dynamic Earth, pause to examine the floating granite globe. Learn how it’s possible to move this 6,614-pound (3,000-kilogram) ball with one hand. Go to the Earth Gallery to see the movements of tectonic plates on an interactive globe. Look for the Mineral Wall exhibit, where you can touch a varied collection of rocks and minerals.
Travel via a glass elevator underground into a rock chasm. Put on a miner’s hat and join a 45-minute tour that traces the changes in mining technology from the 1800s to the 1950s. Back on Dynamic Earth’s ground level, pan for souvenir gold flakes at a multi-level stream. Visit the Mining Command Centre to operate present-day mining equipment such as a remote-controlled rock breaker.
Don’t miss the Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, a multimedia walk-through theatre that highlights the steps involved in nickel and copper production. Discover more about Sudbury’s past in the Nickel City Stories exhibit. Round out your visit by gazing up at the 30-foot-tall (9-metre) Big Nickel, a giant coin that dominates the museum’s garden.
The museum is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Sudbury. Ample parking, for a fee, is available for those arriving by car. Public buses depart from downtown Sudbury and stop at the museum.
The Dynamic Earth science museum is open daily from March to October. Admission to the museum also includes admission to Sudbury’s Science North museum, its IMAX® theatre and planetarium. Access to the Big Nickel is free. Find complete opening times, admission fees and tour schedules on the museum’s official website.
