Please help us protect our priceless collections by following these museum guidelines:
- No food, drink, or tobacco products/vaping in exhibit halls
- Look for hands-on stickers; please do not touch collection items unless identified as hands-on
- Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times
- Photography and video flash are permitted in exhibit halls for personal use only; please do not use flash photography around the live animals
Thank you for your care and consideration!
Dynamic Earth features life-sized casts of dinosaurs and aquatic reptiles, as well as life-sized Pteranodon and Albertosaurus models. Learn how our prehistoric planet changed over time while exploring a land of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and plate tectonics. A collection of glimmering rocks and minerals will dazzle visitors. Discover how wind and water continue to change our planet. Venture through a realistic reproduction of an Alabama cave.
Alabama: Sand to Cedars
While exploring this exhibit hall, visitors will travel through limestone ridges and sparkling rivers, and visit the steamy swamps and sandy coastline of Alabama. See the plants and animals that make Alabama one of the most biologically diverse states. Alabama: Sand to Cedars features a 350-gallon freshwater aquarium and 250-gallon saltwater aquarium. Catch a glimpse of an 11-foot alligator.
Be sure to stop by the hands-on discovery room, NatureSpace, where children can dig for fossils, take a peek through microscopes, and explore their backyard world. AM&G is following CDC Guidelines, and as such, NatureSpace is currently closed.
Attack & Defense
Sharp claws and pointed fangs are only two of the many ways animals hunt and protect themselves. Attack and Defense explores the relationships and roles of predators and prey. Discover who scares bears and why opossums “play dead.” Come face-to-face with live snakes and discover the ways they hide in plain sight. This exhibit hall features a polar bear on the Arctic tundra, an American bison bull, and mountain goats tiptoeing across a mountain cliff.
Birds of the Americas
The ornithological collection of William H. Werner, showcased in Birds of the Americas, contains the oldest bird dioramas in the United States. More than 400 bird species are in life-like poses and settings. Learn all about avian adaptations and then find out if you are as fast as a bird on our reflex interactive. This exhibit hall contains endangered and extinct birds such as the passenger pigeon, the ivory-billed woodpecker, and the Carolina parakeet.
Environments of Africa
Immerse yourself in the African savanna without ever leaving Anniston in the Environments of Africa. Greet some of the world’s largest mammals, consider the African baobab tree’s immense size, and pose for a picture with an elephant enjoying his snack! Guests will wander through the Chad desert, the lush rainforest, and marshy wetlands in this incredible exhibit hall.
Ancient Egyptians revered their natural environment and developed a belief system that lasted more than 3,000 years. Discover why animals such as jackals, ibises, and falcons played a significant role in their culture. Pay respects to our 2,300-year-old Ptolemaic (Greek-era) mummies and discover the intricate steps of mummification. Take a deep breath and enjoy the scents of frankincense, myrrh, and other fragrances used in this process. Enjoy a short film about our smaller mummy’s (Tasherytpamenekh) journey through CT scans and X-rays. Before you leave, come face-to-face with a bust of Tasherytpamenekh and discover how she may have looked in life.
Ducks, Dogs, and Decoys:
The relationship between humans and waterfowl began in pre-history. Water-based birds are still a primary dinner staple around the world, including the United States. Unfortunately, wetlands are lost to waterfront properties every year. Because American waterfowl are vulnerable to habitat loss, the United States government created laws to protect migratory species and their habitats.
Ducks, Dogs, and Decoys highlights the importance and beauty of migratory waterfowl and their role in history and the ecosystem.
In American West, visitors discover the history of the exploration and colonization of the American West. View artifacts and weapons from the American Civil War and the Spanish American War. Observe our collection of Remington and Russell bronze sculptures. Explore our hands-on frontier wagon and marvel at our life-size dioramas.
Deadly Beauty contains examples of rare and exotic weapons from around the world. Pieces found in the gallery include sets of medieval armor, a Czech coronation set, and items that personally belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte.
Arts of Asia
In Arts of Asia, guests admire ceramics, furniture, and sculptures from across the Asiatic world. Icons from Buddhism and Hinduism coincide with beautiful home furnishings. Jade and ivory items can be seen. Smell exotic spices and try-on cultural clothing at our hands-on station. Most items from this gallery were gifted by the Foo family.
The World Wars gallery illustrates the dramatic times of WWI and WWII through artifacts and images. Examine items owned by Mussolini, as well as Adolf Hitler’s silver tea service. This gallery also contains an extensive collection of machine guns, mortars, mines, and bazooka/rocket launchers. Explore a WWI trench dugout recreation and examine clothing and items from WWII in our hands-on trunk.
The Pearl Harbor room, tells the story of the “date which will live in infamy” and humanizes those who were lost during the attack. This exhibit focuses on the stories of three men from Calhoun County who were killed that day: William Francis Roberts, Frank Weaver Hindman, and George Washington Ingram. Listen to President Roosevelt address the nation while examining keepsakes, photos, and a piece of the U.S.S. Arizona.
Danger, Deception, and Disguise
Danger, Deception, and Disguise explores the mysterious world of espionage and pays homage to our founders, Farley and Germaine (Kinne) Berman, both spies during WWII. This exhibit presents those who put their lives at risk serving undercover and the materials and objects used in covert actions taken as a result of intelligence gathering and analysis.
The Berman Museum currently has The Art of Emperors: Cloisonné and Enamelwork on display in the temporary gallery. Here, guests learn how enamel art is made, examine its place in the art world today, and view cloisonné pieces from around the world.
Women in War
Women have always served during wartime in some fashion, whether as nurses, home front support, or soldiers. In the United States, women served unofficially in the Revolutionary, Spanish-American, and American Civil wars. During WWI, women could be assigned to duty as nurses through the American Red Cross. By the end of WWII, women officially joined the armed forces. Despite setbacks and prejudice, women persisted and became equal members of the American military as seen today.
Women in War explores the journey made by womenkind in the American Armed Forces, showcased through many personal stories and artifacts.
This gallery is open thru mid-October.