Hands-on Galleries

CIBC Discovery Gallery

Level 2, Philosophers’ Walk Wing

The CIBC Discovery Gallery draws on the ROM’s vast natural history and world cultures collections to create a fun and engaging “mini-museum” for visitors of all ages to learn more about the world around them.  Organized in three main areas – In the Earth, Around the World and Close to Home - this interactive space is filled with touchable artifacts and real specimens and includes a special area for pre-schoolers, with puzzles, toys and costumes to try on. Each area is supervised by experienced gallery facilitators.

In the Earth brings out the Museum’s natural history collections. Visitors can study the structure of our solar system’s oldest rocks, learn how to distinguish meteorites from earth-originated-rock samples and examine fossils of 505-million-year-old soft-bodied animals discovered by the ROM in the Burgess Shale, a site in the mountains of British Columbia’s Yoho National Park.  Visitors also have a chance to touch a real Hadrosaur leg bone and dig for dinosaur bones.

Around the World focuses on the Museum’s many fascinating world cultures artifacts, including a copy of a Mayan limestone pillar, dating to 625 AD, and an Ancient Egypt display containing a mummy case and a mummified cat. Visitors can learn the meaning of symbols on a Chinese robe, recreate a pattern inspired by Islamic tiles and try on a variety of costumes, from South Asian saris to armour.
 
Close to Home takes a look at the world around Toronto, Ontario and Canada. Children can try on a replica buffalo robe based on an original painted by Running Rabbit, a Blackfoot head chief, and even crawl inside a kid-sized tipi. Also on display are fossils found in the Toronto area.

The Museum’s original Discovery Gallery has been a family favourite since 1977. The CIBC Discovery Gallery was named in 2003 in honour and recognition of CIBC's generous support of Renaissance ROM.

Please Note:

• Stroller access will be restricted during peak periods. Stroller parking is available.
• Timed tickets may be issued during peak periods.
• Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Volunteers Needed!
Share your interest in discovery and join our volunteer team! The CIBC Discovery Gallery and the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity rely on enthusiastic and committed volunteers to assist visitors in explorations of the ROM's hands-on collections.
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