For Immediate Release:
May 20, 2025
Contact:
Olivia Mitchell
Marketing Manager
Culture & Heritage Museums
www.chmuseums.org
803.792.2572
Before the Ice Ages: Miocene and Pliocene Beasts of the Southeast
Opening June 14 at Mysteries of the Miocene Family Day
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Long before the Ice Ages, the Carolinas were home to an astonishing array of prehistoric giants and bizarre beasts. Museum of York County’s brand-new permanent exhibit, “Before the Ice Ages: Miocene and Pliocene Beasts of the Southeast,” takes visitors back to a wild past where saber-toothed cats, shovel-tuskers, and “hell pigs” ruled the southern terrain, before the ecosystems of the Southeast dramatically transformed.
The exhibit features life-sized models, educational displays, and a rare look at never-before-seen animals. “Fossils are the only evidence of extinct life. Fortunately, the southeastern United States has a rich fossil record from the Miocene, Pliocene, and Ice Ages. Advanced techniques using chemical signatures in fossil teeth tell us what animals were here, what they ate, and about their habitats,” Museum Curator Dr. Fields said. “The Carolinas that we see today are but a snapshot in time. Knowledge of past climates may help us better understand the climate of today and the future.”
This brand-new exhibit opens on June 14 at Mysteries of the Miocene Family Day. Visitors will have a chance to get an up-close look at living animals that share ancestry with Miocene creatures and prowl like saber-tooths to learn how these iconic predators hunted. Families and children can design their own headgear inspired by the unique antlers and horns of Miocene animals and test their speed and agility compared to ancient animals, discovering how leg and foot structure influence speed and survival.
Very few museums present the Miocene and Pliocene; when they do, they typically only display casts of fossils. Museum of York County’s exhibits team designed and constructed the animals based on current scientific research and shows fleshed-out models and modified taxidermy.
WHAT: New permanent exhibit opening at Mysteries of the Miocene Family Day
WHEN: June 14 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Rd., Rock Hill, S.C. 29732
TICKETS: Advanced tickets online at chmuseums.org/event/family-day/. Timed-entry ticketing for Family Day is $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children. Culture & Heritage Museum Members and visitors under 3 are always free.
IMAGES:
- A close up of one of the fearsome beast surprises on display in the Miocene
- Another strange beast lumbers through a foreign yet familiar landscape in painter Mauricio Anton’s image.
Images courtesy of Culture & Heritage Museums and Mauricio Anton.
Contact omitchell@chmuseums.org for high resolution images.
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About Museum of York County:
Museum of York County highlights the world of natural history in the Carolina Piedmont through award-winning exhibits, planetarium shows, and special programs. The major permanent exhibit “Ice Age Carolinas: Exploring Our Pleistocene Past” is a journey-back-in-time experience that features the gigantic and fantastic beasts that once roamed the Carolinas. The Naturalist Center, with over 2,500 natural history specimens, provides hands-on opportunities for self-guided discovery and educational programs. The Settlemyre Planetarium presents a changing array of full-dome digital planetarium shows. The Museum Store has a selection of local handmade pottery and goods, locally produced food products, and nature-themed gifts. Outside, the museum has a picnic facility and a three-quarter mile nature trail.
Museum Membership:
Become a Culture & Heritage Museums member and enjoy one year of exclusive benefits including free general admission to all CHM museum sites: Historic Brattonsville, Museum of York County and Main Street Children’s Museum. Membership helps support the work of preserving and communicating the cultural and natural history of the Carolina Piedmont. Consider becoming a CHM member and/or give the gift of CHM membership. Details at chmuseums.org/membership.