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“Sharks” opens at the Connecticut Science Center on May 9, 2026. Courtesy photo

There’s something powerful waiting just beneath the surface, and now it’s within reach in downtown Hartford.

The Connecticut Science Center’s newest exhibition, Sharks, invites visitors into a sweeping, immersive journey through the underwater world of one of Earth’s most fascinating and misunderstood creatures. The exhibition transforms gallery space into a dynamic ocean environment, where light, sound, and motion combine to create the sensation of stepping into the depths alongside these ancient predators.

From the first step inside, the scale is striking. Dozens of full-size shark models, some stretching more than 30 feet long, fill the space, representing species that range from the instantly recognizable great white to lesser known, almost otherworldly sharks like the bioluminescent dwarf lanternshark. The effect is both dramatic and disarming, replacing fear with fascination as visitors come face-to-face with creatures typically seen only on screens or in their imagination.

“Sharks” opens at the Connecticut Science Center on May 9, 2026. Courtesy photo

Developed by the American Museum of Natural History, the exhibition blends science and storytelling to explore how sharks have evolved and thrived for more than 400 million years. Fossil evidence and interactive displays trace their lineage long before the age of dinosaurs, while hands-on elements reveal the sophisticated adaptations that have allowed them to survive in nearly every ocean environment on the planet.

Visitors can examine the enormous jaws of the prehistoric megalodon, investigate how sharks detect prey using finely tuned sensory systems, and uncover the surprising diversity within the species, from deep-sea dwellers that glow in the dark to long-distance migrators that traverse entire oceans. These experiences are designed not just to inform, but to shift perspective.

“Sharks” opens at the Connecticut Science Center on May 9, 2026. Courtesy photo

Throughout the exhibition, a clear narrative emerges sharks are not the villains they’re often portrayed to be. Instead, they are essential to maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. By highlighting their ecological role, the exhibition connects ocean health to broader environmental systems, underscoring how the wellbeing of distant marine habitats ultimately affects communities everywhere, even those far from the coast.

That message is especially timely. While sharks continue to occupy a fearsome place in popular culture, the reality is that human activity poses a far greater threat to them than they do to us. Millions of sharks are lost each year, putting many species at risk. The exhibition challenges visitors to separate myth from fact, encouraging a deeper understanding of conservation and the interconnectedness of life on Earth.

“Sharks” opens at the Connecticut Science Center on May 9, 2026. Courtesy photo

Sharks also delivers moments of pure wonder. Guests can compare their own size to some of the ocean’s largest predators, explore different marine habitats, and even imagine what it might feel like to move through the water as a shark. It’s an experience that balances awe with insight, designed to engage families, students, and lifelong learners alike.

Now open for a limited time, Sharks is included with general admission or membership to the Connecticut Science Center. For visitors looking for a summer experience that blends spectacle with substance, this exhibition offers a compelling reason to dive in.

“Sharks” opens at the Connecticut Science Center on May 9, 2026. Courtesy photo

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