Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats, opens at the San Bernardino County Museum Feb. 8 through May 8, 2022. Produced by Evergreen Exhibitions, a premier provider of traveling exhibits, the show brings the mystery surrounding bats out of the dark and dispels popular misconceptions about bats, emphasizing the unique value these amazing winged creatures add to our ecology.
The special exhibition includes special effects, multi-sensory interactive displays, a Gothic castle and lifelike environmental settings. A transitional area with bat portrait photography and a giant-screen video introduces visitors to the real world of bats as diverse, beneficial mammals with fascinating skills and extraordinary abilities.
A hands-on display relates to the nocturnal activities of bats, such as echolocation (sonar ability), pollination, diet and flight. In a demonstration of echolocation, guests are invited to use a joystick to maneuver a bat model in search of food using a laser to simulate sonar. Visitors will also learn how caring bat mothers are by using sound to help the mother bat find her baby in a bat nursery, and much more.
This 2,500 square foot exhibit has traveled throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe, delighting and astonishing audiences along the way. Dr. Merlin Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International (BCI), serves as scientific consultant. BCI is recognized as the international leader in conservation and education initiatives that protect bats and their habitats.
Melissa Russo, Museum Director said, “It has never been more crucial for public understanding of the value of bats to our environment. Western nations have developed mythologies and fears about bats, that undermine conservation efforts, and with this exhibit, the museum hopes to build a deeper appreciation for these mammals that promote biodiversity, helping to pollinate plants and keeping the mosquito and moth populations down.”
The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.
The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit https://museum.sbcounty.gov/. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.