Bipolar Experience

You don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to see penguins and polar bears — only to the end of the Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson, on the second floor next to Kohl’s. That’s where a new science exhibition runs until Sept. 12. “Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins” showcases artifacts from the Arctic and Antarctic.

“It’s a wonderful exhibit about two areas of the world that most people know very little about,” says exhibit director Raymond Shubinski.

Alas, the penguins and polar bears are stuffed. As cold as it can get inside the Galleria, it doesn’t get that cold.

“I would have loved to have had a nice refrigerated area in the back with a couple of real penguins,” Shubinski says, “but you need to be a zoo with a license to do that.”

A former Anchor Blue outlet may seem a strange place for a science museum, but it makes perfect sense to Shubinski.

“A mall is a destination spot, so it’s much easier to advertise than if we were in a vacant building,” he says.

To add interest, most of the 20 displays come with a five-minute video explanation, some with interactive games and trivia questions. (Impress your friends: The hairiest animal in the Arctic is a musk ox. )

There’s even a tiny cave for the tykes to climb into. (For extra fun, don’t tell them about the audio recording of a polar bear they’ll trigger once inside.)

“The younger ones come shooting out,” says Shubinski. “It’s kind of funny.”

“Ends of the Earth” belongs to Science North, a museum in Sudbury, Canada, which intended to rent it to another science center. Thus, Shubinski landed his imitation ice at a fire sale price ($60,000).

“We have to be as economical as we possibly can,” he says, adding that he could not have opened had the Galleria not donated the 6,000-square-foot space.

“We’re very grateful,” he says.

Shubinski — former director of the University of Arizona Science Center in Tuscon — also serves as executive director of the Henderson Space and Science Center. This is not a particularly well-defined position since the Henderson Space and Science Center doesn’t exist.

Not yet anyway. It’s planned for 160 vacant acres at U.S. 95 and Russell Road. Although there is no timeline for construction, proceeds from this exhibit will help defray the $21 million already budgeted by the city of Henderson.

“There’s nothing else in Southern Nevada that will be like it,” promises Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen, who says he hopes “Ends of the Earth” will attract 20,000 paying visitors.

“If we can draw that,” Hafen says, “we feel it’s a good test case.”

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@review journal.com or 702-383-0456.