After several months of work on exhibit renewal in their main exhibit hall, the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre (YBIC) held a grand reopening celebration on Saturday, June 17.
Refreshments, live music, entertainment, and a wide range of activities for all ages were on offer at this free event. In addition, Tourism and Culture Minister John Streicker, YBIC Manager Christie Grekul, and Yukon Palaeontologist Dr. Grant Zazula provided visitors with additional information regarding the exhibits and their significance.
The newly renovated main exhibit hall includes the following features:
- three interactive science stations designed to teach visitors about different phases of the Ice Age;
- a 40-foot-long hand-painted mural depicting the animals and plants of Beringia through time;
- a feature wall showcasing the skulls of Beringian animals;
- a collection of over 50 Yukon fossils; a new kids’ play area inspired by the rugged mountains of the Yukon; and
- a renewed visitor reception area.
A lot of the new exhibits are made to be moveable and modular. This adaptability will consider local area occasions to more readily use the space. In addition, it will make it possible to update exhibits on a regular basis as our understanding of the Ice Age grows.
