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Permanent Exhibition

Evolution and progress, the journey of life.

4.6 billion years have passed since the birth of the Earth, and 4 billion years since the birth of life.
Life has evolved in a variety of ways in a constantly changing environment.
And we, the human race, are weaving a new story in this era that is only a part of that long history.

At the Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and History (Travel Museum of Life),
You can experience this magnificent evolution of life and the progress of humanity.

Now, let's go on a journey of life.

Natural History Zone

The natural history zone introduces the evolution of living things from ancient times and the diverse living things that live on Earth today through a wealth of actual specimens.
The museum also exhibits numerous fossils, minerals, rocks, and specimens of modern living creatures found in and around Kitakyushu, and explains the unique natural environment of Kitakyushu, where we live, from ancient times to the present.

The impressive dinosaurs

Earth MAll

Since life first appeared on Earth about 4 billion years ago, many species have appeared, evolved, and become extinct. This Earth MAll introduces representative organisms that have appeared on Earth, and allows visitors to trace the evolution of life.
The exhibits in Earth MAll are arranged roughly in chronological order, and the very back of Earth MAll is where you are now.

Formation of the Earth

This site introduces the origins and structure of the Earth, various geological phenomena that occur on Earth, and representative minerals and rocks of the Earth. The Earth was formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago by the collision and merging of planetesimals. At first, the entire planet was in a molten state called a "magma ocean," but it gradually cooled and the crust, mantle, and core were formed. On the surface, the oceans and atmosphere were formed, and life was born. The Earth is still active today, and geological phenomena such as plate movement and volcanic activity, as well as a wide variety of minerals and rocks, can be seen near the surface.

Paleozoic

The Paleozoic Era, which consists of the geological period from the Cambrian to the Permian, was so rich in invertebrates that it can be called the "Age of Invertebrates." During the Cambrian, organisms underwent an explosive evolution, and the ancestors of most animals appeared, including the ancestors of vertebrates. In the Silurian Period, plants moved onto land, and in the Devonian Period, amphibians and insects appeared. Furthermore, in the Carboniferous Period, reptiles appeared. Organisms expanded their habitat onto land throughout the Paleozoic Era, but at the end of the Permian Period, the largest mass extinction in history occurred.

Mesozoic

The Mesozoic era is also known as the "Age of Dinosaurs." In the center of Earth MAll, many kinds of dinosaur skeletons from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods are exhibited. The climate of the Earth during the Mesozoic era was warm, and mammals and birds appeared during this period. At the end of the Mesozoic era, there was a major change in the environment, and ammonites and dinosaurs other than birds became extinct. The leading theory is that this was caused by an asteroid colliding with the Earth.

Cenozoic

The Cenozoic Era is also known as the "Age of Mammals." Older mammals, such as Brontotherium, were replaced by newer mammals, such as deer. We appeared quite late in the Cenozoic Era. The Cenozoic Era includes the present.

The dinosaurs move!

Time-Traveling Room

The Time-Traveling Room is made up of the "Cretaceous Zone," which recreates the environment of the ancient Kitakyushu region, and the "Research Zone," which displays specimens of fossils and rocks used in the reconstruction. The hall in the Cretaceous Zone is a diorama that recreates northern Kyushu in the Early Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic era, and visitors can enjoy the experience of an ancient night with light, sound, and wind.

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Many living creatures on display

Diversity of Life

Since its birth, life has continued to evolve in the ever-changing global environment. The biodiversity seen on Earth today is the result of this evolution. Living things of all sizes and shapes, from invisible organisms such as bacteria to gigantic whales, live alongside us. The Diversity of Life introduces the diverse world of these living things through a wide range of actual specimens.

Kitakyushu's nature in a diorama

Discovering Nature

Kyushu Island is located in the southwest of Japan and is characterized by a warm climate and evergreen broad-leaved forests. Kitakyushu, located at the northern tip of Kyushu Island, is blessed with an indented coastline and mountainous backdrop, and its diverse environment has nurtured many living creatures. Furthermore, as it is the point where the Japanese archipelago meets the continent, it has been a migration route for living creatures from the distant past to the present. Here, we will introduce the representative nature of Kitakyushu through dioramas and specimens.

Promotional Video

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