Frozen Giants Come Alive: Inside Pittsburgh Zoo’s Mesmerizing Ice Age Exhibit
The ancient giants have awakened, and they’re thundering into Pittsburgh! The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is plunging visitors back in time with its extraordinary new exhibit, “Ice Age: Frozen in Time,” opening April 14 in Highland Park. This isn’t just a step back into history—it’s a full sensory immersion into a world ruled by mammoths, saber-tooth cats, and the enigmatic dodo. As our present faces climate change, the lessons held in these frozen giants resonate more than ever.
The heart of the exhibit is pure spectacle: more than 50 lifelike animatronic models representing 31 prehistoric species, all portrayed with meticulous, almost cinematic detail. Pitt’s Zoo director of special projects, Sam Holloway, described the centerpiece as "an animatronic mammoth towering over 12 feet tall." The scale is jaw-dropping, with creatures up to 14 feet. Yet, it’s not all size—realistic movements and the ancestral soundscape of snorts, grunts, and rumbles bring these colossal mammals—and even the quirky, flightless dodo—to vibrant life.
Walking among megatheriums and wooly rhinos, guests are surrounded not just by prehistoric life, but by information. Each stop brims with insights into how these animals thrived when vast ice sheets covered much of the earth. Holloway’s team crafted all educational displays in-house, ensuring that visitors come away both awed and informed. Of particular note: the remarkable toughness of the creations—"they held up through wind, rain, snow and cold," says Holloway of prototypes tested over the winter. Clearly, these ice age denizens are as resilient as their ancient ancestors.
What makes "Frozen in Time" more than a spectacle is its powerful message. Many exhibit stars are distant relatives of animals we know today—a living testament to adaptation and evolution. Holloway notes, “They offer valuable information to us today about the effects of climate change and the importance of biodiversity.” The herculean effort behind this immersive experience reminds us not only of what we’ve lost, but what remains at stake for wildlife on our warming planet.
“Ice Age: Frozen in Time” is a rare chance to see the giants of the past up close—and to reflect on humanity’s role in shaping the future for those that survive. Will standing in the shadow of a mammoth inspire us to do more for the species headed toward their own extinction?
Are you planning a visit to Pittsburgh’s lost world? Leave your thoughts, favorite icy giant, or questions below—and share this article if you believe these ancient stories deserve a wider audience!