Spider Pavilion is an amazing, outdoor walk-though exhibit with over 300 spiders in a natural environment.  Since spiders are synonymous with bad feelings for most, I was curious to see how the museum would present them in a positive light.

The exhibit began with a heart-throbbing bang. Looking me straight in the eyes was a hairy Brazilian White Knee Tarantula behind a glass box! A chill ran down my spine as I got goose bumps.  Although this creature was safely captive, I still had those childhood fears summoned up and sparkling in my brain. I was able to suppress these feelings after I learned most spiders are not only safe, but only attack if provoked.     

The museum’s beautifully landscaped outdoor exhibit is ironically calming for hosting hundreds of spiders.  With so many spiders crawling and building around me, it felt like I was on display.  One of the most enjoyable aspects was watching children gasping and pointing in amazement at the tiny silk producers.  The museum does a great job of displaying its guests by letting them roam freely. Not only did this allow for some great views, but a better appreciation of the spiders engineering capabilities. The variety of webs and egg-nests are beautifully designed and efficiently placed throughout the garden.  Luckily, the exhibit is during the egg season, giving visitors an opportunity to see numerous protective cocoons.  The trained expert staff pointed this out as well as numerous other attention-grabbing facts that gave me a better understanding of spiders. It was interesting to note no reported spider caused human death has occurred in over fifty years, something that made me breath a little easier.

Spider Pavilion is a great place for anyone who likes to discover and learn. Although I may not have a pet spider in the near future, I have learned enough to respect them rather than fear them.  Spider Pavilion is open now through November 2nd, perfect for the Halloween season.  For more information, visit www.nhm.org.