Dive In: New Sharks Exhibition Now Open
Go beneath the surface in this thrilling new exhibition that reveals the beauty, mystery, and power of the ocean’s most misunderstood predators.
Sharks Ribbon Cutting. From LEFT to RIGHT are: Rodney A. Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation; Dr. Kishore Kumar, Pediatrician, ProHealth Physicians of Bristol; Matt Fleury, President and CEO at the Connecticut Science Center; David W. Glidden, President & CEO of Liberty Bank and Chair of the Connecticut Science Center’s Board of Trustees
Hartford, CT (May 12, 2026) – Something powerful is moving just beneath the surface. Now, visitors can come face-to-face with it.
The Connecticut Science Center is making waves with the opening of Sharks, a dynamic new exhibition that plunges guests into the hidden world of one of the planet’s oldest and most captivating creatures. Developed by the American Museum of Natural History, Sharks invites visitors of all ages to explore a realm where massive predators glide silently, senses extend beyond human perception, and survival has been refined over hundreds of millions of years.
From the moment visitors enter, they are immersed in an underwater environment surrounded by lifelike shark models, light, motion, and sound. Featuring dozens of full-scale models ranging from a few inches to more than 30 feet long, the exhibition showcases the remarkable diversity of sharks, from the iconic great white to the bioluminescent dwarf lanternshark. This exhibition moves beyond fear and focuses on discovery.
“Sharks have always captured our imagination, but what lies beneath the surface is far more fascinating than fear,” said Matt Fleury, President and CEO at the Connecticut Science Center. “This exhibition brings that reality to life. It shows how powerful these animals are, how essential they are to ocean ecosystems, and why they deserve our respect. Visitors will leave with a completely different perspective.”
Sharks have existed for more than 400 million years, long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Today, they inhabit nearly every marine environment, from coastal waters to the deepest parts of the ocean.
“Our partnership with the Connecticut Science Center reflects a shared commitment to education, conservation, and community engagement,” said Rodney A. Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. "The Science Center does extraordinary work to inspire curiosity and learning across our state, and we are proud to support its mission. Exhibitions like this help people of all ages better understand the interconnectedness of our natural world and why these animals deserve both our respect and our protection.”
Sharks bring this world to life through immersive media, fossil evidence, and interactive experiences that highlight ancient species, modern predators, and the extraordinary adaptations that define them. Visitors can encounter the massive jaws of the prehistoric megalodon, examine how sharks detect prey using highly specialized senses, and discover species that glow in the dark or migrate thousands of miles each year.
“Liberty Bank is proud to sponsor Sharks at the Connecticut Science Center. Exhibitions like this attract visitors of all ages to this popular destination in our Capital City,” said David W. Glidden, President & CEO of Liberty Bank and Chair of the Connecticut Science Center’s Board of Trustees. “Our sponsorship of Sharks is just one of many ways we support educational exploration in the community, helping expand access and create meaningful learning opportunities.”
Throughout the exhibition, a clear message emerges. Sharks are not the villains they are often portrayed to be. They are essential to the health of ocean ecosystems.
While sharks continue to inspire fear in popular culture, the reality is far more complex. Humans pose a far greater threat to sharks than sharks do to people. Millions are lost each year due to human activity, placing many species at risk. The exhibition challenges visitors to separate myth from fact and highlights the importance of conservation.
“Our partnership with the Connecticut Science Center is about supporting experiences that make learning more engaging and accessible,” said Anika Howard, President and Chief Executive Officer of WONDR NATION. “This exhibition is a great example of how immersive storytelling can spark curiosity and create memorable moments for visitors of all ages. We’re proud to continue supporting the Science Center to help bring experiences like this to life for the community.”
Whether guests are lifelong ocean enthusiasts or encountering sharks for the first time, Sharks delivers moments of discovery, scale, and perspective. Visitors can compare their size to massive species, explore ocean habitats, and experience what it might be like to move through the water as a shark.
“Inspiring curiosity and lifelong learning are essential to healthy communities,” said Dr. Joy Hong, pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer at ProHealth Physicians, part of Optum. “We’re proud to support experiences like Sharks that encourage families to explore science together in memorable ways.”
Sharks will be on exhibit at the Connecticut Science Center for a limited time. Admission is included with general admission or membership. Get tickets or learn more at ctsciencecenter.org.
Sharks is presented by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Wondr Nation, Liberty Bank, and ProHealth Physicians, part of Optum. The exhibit is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org). The Museum gratefully acknowledges Warner Bros. Discovery for its generous support of Sharks. A selection of footage in Sharks has been provided by Discovery's Shark Week.
About the Connecticut Science Center:
Located in downtown Hartford, the LEED Gold-certified Connecticut Science Center inspires curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of science through hands-on experiences for visitors of all ages. Home to more than 165 interactive exhibits, the Science Center explores topics including space, earth sciences, biology, and Connecticut’s legacy of innovation, along with a year-round butterfly habitat, a giant-screen theater, and dynamic learning labs. As a nonprofit organization, the Connecticut Science Center advances science literacy and workforce development across Connecticut and New England through engaging programs for students, families, educators, and professionals. For more information, visit CTScienceCenter.org or call (860) SCIENCE.
About the American Museum of Natural History:
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City, founded in 1869 with a dual mission of scientific research and science education, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, galleries for temporary exhibitions, the Rose Center for Earth and Space including the Hayden Planetarium, and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The Museum’s scientists draw on a world-class permanent collection of more than 30 million specimens and objects, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum offers two of the only free-standing, degree-granting programs of their kind at any U.S museum: the Ph.D. program in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Earth Science residency program. Visit amnh.org for more information.