The document proposes a redesign of the Prehistoric Kansas exhibit at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum. The goals are to focus more on Kansas geology, add introductory areas to provide context, separate exhibits by geological time period, and break up long hallways. Elements of the new design include interactive displays about unique Kansas rock formations and environments, a geologic timeline tracing changes in animals, plants, earth and Kansas over time, and object labels to identify and provide information about specimens.

2. Logo Development
Prehistoric Kansas:
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Prehistoric Kansas:
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ea Monsters to
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Prehistoric Kansas:
Prehistoric Kansas:
ea Monsters to
ammoths Prehistoric Kansas:
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Prehistoric Kansas:
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ea Monsters to
ammoths The University of Kansas
Natural History Museum
Vinyl Banner Postcard

3. Current Space
Low Ceilings, No Dinos
Three Entryways
Multi-Use Space
Where in time?
No interactivity

4. Project Goals
Focus on Kansas
Add Introductory Areas
Separate Subjects in
Cretaceous
Time
Cenozoic Paleozoic
Break up Long Hallways
Paleolab
1G 1. Kansas Rocks! 1A
1F
Recreate environments
1H
1C 1B
W 1E 1D
S N
1:178 Scale
E
1. Kansas Rocks! 2. The Cenozoic 3. Cretaceous 4. Paleozoic
A. Introductory Label
B. Geologic Timeline 5. Paleolab
C. 3D Kansas map
D. Reading Rocks
E. Unique formations
F. Beneath the surface
G. Natural Resources
H. Drinking Spring

5. Kansas Rocks! Goals
Introduction to Geology of
Kansas
Highlight Unique Features
See Kansas’s past in road-
side cutouts
Different rocks are formed
under different conditions

6. Introductory Graphic
Postcard-style illustrations of
each element within exhibit
Sculpted Wall
Map
Allows visitors to preview,
plan amount of time to spend

7. Timeline
1B Geologic Timeline
Contains all specimens in
exhibit 0
Colors used to code time
60
throughout
c
oi
oz
en
C
230
Tracks changes in other es
oz
oi
c
categories Animals, Plants,
M
550
Earth, Kansas Animals Pa
le
oz
oi
c
Plants
Earth
Illustrations of selected
Kansas
species and environments
Serves as an overview of the exhibit, places specimens in collection
in the larger context of what was happening in the world. Ciolors
used on the timeline are used as accent colors in exhbits within that
time period.
0 0
Object Label objectus labelus 60
60
Object Label objectus labelus
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8. Timeline
Early Sketches
Tube of Time Concept Early sketches

9. Natural Spring
Sculpted to look like one
of Kansas’s many natural
Springs
Alcove Springs
Water from runoff sinks into
ground
Limestone acts like sponge
Shale like liner of pool
Drinking from spring, Health
issues

10. 3D Kansas Map
Shows different ages and
elevations of Kansas rocks
Uplift and Erosion, and
Changes in sea level
Layers color coded to
timeline
Show where famous finds in
the exhibit were made
To find a particular type of
animal, have to look in right
layer

11. Reading Rocks
Identify Rocks
Touchable samples
Learn how different kinds of
rocks formed in different
environments
Sculpted pillar looks like
roadside cut
Developed further

12. Reading Rocks
Sketches
Sculpted wall with environments formed in
Comic book style illustrations, Life of a Rock
Rock forming interactive Final interactive, shows layers being compacted

13. Unique Formations
Oversize postcards from
locations
Rock City
Castle Rock
Monument Rocks
Slanted Rail beneath
includes info on location,
how they were formed, and
unique local signage

14. Beneath the Surface
& Natural Resources
Left, Core Samples
How collected
Pull-out tabs, when, what
layers tell about environment
Right, Oversize Postcard
Hugoton, KS
2nd Largest Nat. Gas
Reserves in world
Limestone for building
Ogallala Aquifer

15. Roadtrip Theater
On location reporting from
many of sites in the exhibit
More like being there
Front end, back wall, and
seats from old station wagon
Decorated old signs,
highway markings
Push radio buttons in dash to
select movie want
Interface looks like map, with
photos pinned to it near
locations
Video Interface

16. Summary
Cretaceous
Cenozoic Paleozoic
Paleolab
1G 1. Kansas Rocks! 1A
1F 1H
1C 1B
W 1E 1D
S N
1:178 Scale
E
1. Kansas Rocks! 2. The Cenozoic 3. Cretaceous 4. Paleozoic
A. Introductory Label
B. Geologic Timeline 5. Paleolab
C. 3D Kansas map
D. Reading Rocks
E. Unique formations
F. Beneath the surface
G. Natural Resources
H. Drinking Spring