PBS’s “Nature: Museum Alive” Brings a Night at the Museum-Style Adventure to Life
For decades, Night at the Museum has captured imaginations with the idea that, after dark, exhibits in the world’s most famous museums spring to life. Now, a new PBS special takes that concept to the next level—except this time, it’s Sir David Attenborough himself who embarks on the adventure. Premiering tonight, PBS’s Nature, Museum Alive with David Attenborough invites viewers on an after-hours journey through London’s Natural History Museum, where fossils don’t just sit behind glass—they transform into the living, breathing creatures they once were. Using state-of-the-art CGI and cutting-edge science, the special resurrects long-extinct animals, offering an experience that feels straight out of Hollywood.
Much like Ben Stiller’s security guard character in Night at the Museum, Attenborough wanders the museum as exhibits come alive. But instead of playful reenactments of history, these creatures appear as they truly were in their prime, revealing new scientific insights into their behavior and evolution. You won’t find mannequins of Teddy Roosevelt and Sacagawea falling in love here, just long-lost prehistoric creatures coming to life in entertaining and educational ways.
Among the astonishing prehistoric creatures that come to life:
- Smilodon, the saber-toothed tiger, prowls the museum halls with its massive fangs.
- The dodo, often misrepresented in popular culture, makes an appearance, showcasing its true nature beyond extinction folklore.
- Gigantopithecus, a massive prehistoric ape, towers over Attenborough, offering a glimpse into the real-life origins of the yeti legend.
- The moa, a flightless bird native to New Zealand, roams once again, towering over its modern avian relatives.
- Gigantophis, an ancient serpent, slithers through the museum, demonstrating how it once dominated prehistoric ecosystems.
- Ichthyosaurs, dolphin-like marine reptiles, leap back into an imagined prehistoric ocean setting.
- Iguanodon, the first dinosaur fossil ever discovered, walks through the museum, showing how early paleontology shaped our understanding of dinosaurs.
- A baby sauropod and its full-sized counterpart, a nod to the museum’s famous Diplodocus skeleton, affectionately known as “Dippy."
The magic of Museum Alive lies not just in its visual spectacle but in Attenborough’s expert narration, which brings each creature’s history to life. Through his storytelling, viewers learn how paleontologists continue to make groundbreaking discoveries, reshaping our understanding of these long-extinct animals.
Unlike the comedic chaos of Night at the Museum, Museum Alive delivers a sense of wonder grounded in science. It’s a journey through deep time, where fossils are not just relics but keys to unlocking the mysteries of Earth’s prehistoric past. For anyone who ever wished museums could truly come to life, Nature: Museum Alive with David Attenborough is as close as it gets.
Catch the premiere on Wednesday, February 19th, at 8/7c on PBS, pbs.org/nature, YouTube, and the PBS App.