Great Valley Museum and Planetarium — Attraction in Modesto

We basically had the whole place to ourselves, as it was a weekday and the museum most likely is less busy due to covid. It was very nice, and there was a lot to see and read. All the taxidermy there is very good quality, and the scenes that the taxidermy are placed into are all very realistic (down to fake animal droppings haha). You can tell that a lot of time went into creating the scenes and into research for the information. It was very enjoyable. I loved the gift shop as well, lots of very interesting and cool items. we got crystal bracelets, soap, and a little plastic frog. I would definitely go again, especially since they show different exhibits and do different things like that...

This is a smallish museum housed in the Junior College campus. It was a bit hard to find; I had to ask a few of the students where the museum was, and some of them didn’t know that there is a museum on campus.

Most of the exhibit space is taken up by a large taxidermy collection, including habitats, and audio examples of bird calls, etc.. they have other exhibits such as a periodic table featuring samples of the elements, and a room with hands-on exhibits for school-age children, and live spiders and (non-venomous) snakes.

Staff was very helpful...

We went for the children's program & the talk. Missed the talk but the Jurassic Experience was amazing for the grandkids ages 3 - 8. Lots to see & do. Questions to answer, coloring, digging in a sand pit for fossils & games with prizes. Everybody wins. Then a tour of the Great Valley Museum. Once outside got to see 2 foxes running across the lawn towards the atheletic field. I highly recommend this place for the young & old. Upcoming events too like an astromny night with telescopes on the roof to look at...