Our Dynamic Landscape: Geology, Culture, History

Opened in 2009, this exhibit is located on the highest point on the Nature Center property. The exhibit focuses on the geology of the Davis Mountains and tells a story of construction and destruction, of how mountains are built and torn down. The exhibit also shows how the culture and history of the region are linked to the geology.

Click here to learn more about this new exhibit.

Chihuahuan Desert Mining Heritage Exhibit

Lead, zinc, barite, copper, manganese, sulfur, oil, gas, fluorite, talc, potash, water, quarry stone, gypsum, mercury, bentonite, salt, silver, gold, sand and gravel. The Chihuahuan Desert region has an extraordinary abundance of minerals.

The Chihuahuan Desert Mining Heritage Exhibit tells the story of 10,000 years of mining in the Chihuahuan Desert region through displays of artifacts and the ores that were mined. The exhibit includes the replica of a late-19^th century head frame, a horse-whim, and a display of fluorescent minerals. The ore trail features ores that have been mined in the Chihuahuan Desert region.

Geological Timeline

The geological timeline wraps around the western side of the Visitors’ Center. The full range of geologic time is shown with rock samples collected from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Signs tell the visitor not only what the rock is, but also what was happening at the time.

The timeline illustrates a story of oceans and volcanoes. Of pressures so intense that simple limestone is squeezed and heated until it forms marble. Wormholes are evidence of the very beginning of life and pieces of petrified wood speak of a time when the Chihuahuan Desert region was forested and swampy. The rocks also tell the story of the worlds greatest transitions—from the Precambrian to the Cambrian and the Cretaceous to the Tertiary.

Atrium Exhibits

The exhibits in the atrium of the Visitors’ Center are always changing. You can pick and choose from a variety of programs on our large-screen display monitor. Use our birding program to identify a bird you may have seen or our PowerPoint programs to learn about the plants and animals of the Nature Center. There’s always something new!