LINCOLN, Neb. If youre in need of a vacation, you can take a trip to the Galapagos Islands without even leaving Nebraska. An exciting traveling exhibit just opened at Morrill Hall in Lincoln.

The Galapagos exhibit transports you to a chain of islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in South America. If you visit the museum, you can explore the islands to learn about plants and animals found there.

We provide a field guide for you to wander through the islands as you visit this extraordinary place, said Dr, Judy Diamond, Professor and Curator at the University of Nebraska State Museum.

Visitors will also be able to examine a variety of specimens, including a newly discovered butterfly species; and play with 10 touch-screen stations offering games and videos.

You can hear the sounds and sights of the Galapagos Islands. You can also engage in interactive exhibits where you get to play the role of the scientist and measure the beaks of finches to see how they relate to different ecological conditions that produce different kinds of seeds said Dr. Diamond.

The Galapagos Islands helped Charles Darwin develop his theory of evolution by natural selection. Since then, other important biological discoveries have occurred in the Galapagos. The islands continue to be a research mecca for biologists and a unique travel destination for nature enthusiasts.

These islands are a very special place, said Dr. Diamond. They were formed less than four million years ago and they arose from volcanoes under the ocean.

The exhibit is open until August, but during the month of March, the museum is hosting events to celebrate the opening.

Investigate: Second Saturday Science Lab is March 11 from 10 a.m. to Noon. That event allows visitors to learn about reptiles that live in the Galapagos and see box turtles. To learn more click here.

After that, Science Caf: From Nebraska to the Galapagos is March 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. That event is a casual, educational and entertaining monthly series for adults 21 and older exploring a variety of science and natural history topics. For more information on that event, click here.

For general information the exhibit and what it has to offer, click here.

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Exhibit at Morrill Hall transports you to the Galapagos Islands - 1011now