Tuesday, July 16, 2024 Long before humans or dinosaurs existed, ichthyosaurs, colossal marine reptiles, roamed the ancient seas of what is now Nevada. The Nevada Museum of Art is set to unveil a new exhibition, “Deep Time: Sea Dragons of Nevada,” beginning September 7, 2024. This groundbreaking display will feature spectacular, never-before-seen fossils of these 250-million-year-old sea creatures.
Spanning 9,000 square feet, this exhibition is the largest collection of giant ichthyosaur fossils ever assembled under one roof. It blends science, art, history, and design to narrate the rise and fall of the ichthyosaur and its unique ties to Nevada. The ichthyosaur, meaning “fish-lizard” in Greek, thrived in prehistoric oceans for 160 million years before its extinction.
These marine reptiles had the largest eyes of any vertebrate, measuring nearly a foot in diameter, and some species grew over 65 feet long. They are considered among the largest creatures to have ever lived on Earth. Visitors will begin their journey through time with “Swell,” a room-sized light installation by contemporary artist Anthony McCall.
The main exhibit space will feature displays representing Nevada’s mountain ranges and over 20 fossil specimens excavated from 1868 to 2022. A standout feature is a full-size visualization of an ichthyosaur that responds to human movement, allowing visitors to “swim” alongside this ancient reptile. Fossils for “Deep Time” are sourced from prestigiou.
