'Discover Through Time' in DHDC's new permanent exhibit, now open

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·3 min read

The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) invites the community to experience its newly opened exhibition, "Discover Through Time."

The new exhibit opened to the public on Sept. 24 and explores the High Plains area over the past millennium, until it became the flatlands that we know and love today.

Featuring more than 30 species of animals, full-sensory environments, hands-on exploration activities, a life-science observation lab, a second-story exhibit space overlooking the West Wing, breakout rooms, and reading nooks, this new addition to the DHDC will educate generations of community members.

The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past with their new permanent exhibit, now open.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past with their new permanent exhibit, now open.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past with their new permanent exhibit, now open. The exhibit includes sea life and different biomes of what West Texas used to be.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past with their new permanent exhibit, now open. The exhibit includes sea life and different biomes of what West Texas used to be.

"'Discover Through Time' is kind of a time travel experience where people can go through the different biomes that the High Plains used to be and see the animals that were similar to the time frame," Sophia Britto, marketing coordinator for DHDC, said.

The exhibit includes sections such as in land, sea including aquatic life, an earthquake section demonstrating where Pangea would have happened and split the area, ancient high plains where giant animals used to roam the area, and the evolution leading the area to the modern grass lands and high plains that we know today.

According to DHDC, the inspiration for the new exhibit came from the discovery center's CEO Wendy Taylor, who grew up in Lubbock. After returning to the area in 2019, Taylor was shocked to learn the origins of West Texas and the history that she was never taught in school and wanted to create an exhibit sharing that knowledge. "Discover Through Time" allows guests to learn about the different biomes that West Texas used to be, while seeing what kind of animals had evolved from each of its different periods in time.

"The High Plains used to be under water millions of years ago. It was a part of the Atlantic Sea millions of years ago, and before and after that, it was a giant spruce forest. Texas's state rock is actually petrified wood because we have such an abundance of petrified wood from that time, so we decided to combine the idea of animals and fish as well as some interactive activities and real objects, like a real piece of that petrified wood, to represent each time period," Britto said.

The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past with their new permanent exhibit, now open.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past with their new permanent exhibit, now open.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past with their new permanent exhibit, now open.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past with their new permanent exhibit, now open.

Some animals that are in the exhibit include jellyfish, lion fish, axolotl, giant frogs, bearded dragons, chameleons, approximately 20 bird species, Goliath beetles, rabbits, box turtles, area native fish and much more.

Britto said that the exhibit aims to prompt curiosity and outdoor exploration, as well as offer some new knowledge to the individuals who have lived in the area their whole lives. According to DHDC, the exhibit is a new permanent exhibit and is part of the center's first modifications in the building in more than a decade.

Following the "Discovery Through Time" exhibit, the center encourages attendees to also explore the Wildcat Bluff Nature Center to explore more of what the High Plains region offers today.

The Don Harrington Discovery Center displays a wall with a memorial in its new permanent exhibit, "Discover Through Time," dedicated to local wildlife educator and caretaker Billy Diggs.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center displays a wall with a memorial in its new permanent exhibit, "Discover Through Time," dedicated to local wildlife educator and caretaker Billy Diggs.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past. Their new permanent exhibit, now open to the public, features more than 30 species of animals, full-sensory environments, hands-on exploration activities, a life-science observation lab, a second-story exhibit space overlooking the West Wing, breakout rooms, and reading nooks,

The exhibit space is also in dedication to Billy Diggs, a close family member of a volunteer at the Discovery Center and Wildcat Bluff Nature Center.

"My brother loved kids. He loved educating kids, and he loved little critters. And to see the dedication means a lot to me," said Patricia (Pat) Diggs, volunteer at DHDC. "The people here are so hard working. I am proud to volunteer here, and I am proud of this exhibit. And I know everyone will love it the way I do."

To create this exhibit, DHDC partnered with professors from West Texas A&M University's Wildlife Biology Department, Sims + Architects, and Total Habitat, a zoo exhibit fabrication company. Additionally, this exhibit received community support with a $350,000 grant from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation toward its completion, as well as a substantial donation from the Education Credit Union Foundation supporting the completion of the second floor space.

For more information about the exhibit or to schedule a visit, go online to https://discoverycenteramarillo.org/ .

The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past. According to DHDC, this is a new permanent exhibit and is part of the center's first modifications in the building in more than a decade.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past. According to DHDC, this is a new permanent exhibit and is part of the center's first modifications in the building in more than a decade.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past. According to DHDC, this is a new permanent exhibit and is part of the center's first modifications in the building in more than a decade.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past. According to DHDC, this is a new permanent exhibit and is part of the center's first modifications in the building in more than a decade.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past. The new permanent exhibit includes more than 30 animal species and various aspects of West Texas biomes throughout history.
The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) invites the community to "Discover Through Time" and explore animals and wildlife of the High Plains from the past. The new permanent exhibit includes more than 30 animal species and various aspects of West Texas biomes throughout history.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Explore the region's past in new DHDC exhibit Discover Through Time