Billed as northwest Georgia's premiere science museum when it opened in January 2009, Tellus Science Museum has four galleries: The Weinman Mineral Gallery, which houses a vast collection of gems and minerals; the Fossil Gallery, which includes a Tyrannosaurus rex, a 9-foot-wide jaw of a Megaladon and southeastern dinosaurs; Science in Motion, which takes visitors through 100 years of transportation technology with vintage vehicles and replicas of the Apollo I capsule and Sputnik and the Mercury capsule; and the Collins Family My Big Backyard, which offers children an interactive learning experience with light, magnets, electricity, weather and more.
Tellus also houses a planetarium with shows running every 45 minutes from 10am to 4pm. Planetarium tickets are $3 with general admission entry and $2 per additional show.
Children can take home their finds from the Fossil Dig and Gem Panning area. Both free with the cost of general admission, The Vulcan Materials Company Gem Panning area features a working water wheel. In the Fossil Dig, children uncover sharks teeth, snail shells and other fossils from faux sand.
Designed and built for an international competition by Georgia Tech students, Tellus' solar house is open Thursday through Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. With 39 solar panels, an insulated polyurethane base and a water capture and reclamation system, the solar house was designed to show how solar energy can make homes more self-sufficient.
The museum plays host to special events, such as Rockfest, Night at the Museum and Metal in Motion and a lecture series which brings fresh speakers each month.
Tellus Cafe offers meals, snacks and drinks from 10am to 4pm. No outside food or drink is allowed in the museum.
Also serving as an event venue, Tellus offers adult, group, school and scout programs.