National Geographic
NGS Picture Id:130937
Gombe, Tanzania - Jane Goodall and infant chimpanzee reach out to touch each other's hands. (National Geographic Creative/ Hugo Van Lawick)
If you’ve ever imagined stepping into the shoes of one of history’s most iconic scientists, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History offers an invitation that’s hard to resist. “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall” is more than an exhibit — it’s a journey through the life of a woman who transformed how we understand chimpanzees, conservation, and the very nature of science.
Running through Sept. 1 and produced in partnership with National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute, the exhibit invites visitors to Goodall’s world. From a beloved stuffed chimpanzee – she owned as a child — still on display after 90 years—to a painstaking recreation of her research tent in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park, the show goes beyond artifacts. It’s an immersive experience featuring life-size holograms, augmented reality interactions where visitors can match chimpanzee vocalizations, and a virtual journey through the park where Goodall made her groundbreaking observations.
Visitors witness Goodall’s evolution from a curious girl with a dream to a pioneering scientist who changed the narrative on animal behavior by recognizing chimpanzees as individuals with personalities and emotions—a radical idea at the time. The exhibit traces her ongoing activism, from Roots & Shoots youth programs to global conservation efforts, and invites guests to pledge their own steps toward a sustainable future.
1 of 6
Stephen Montoya
2 of 6
Stephen Montoya
3 of 6
Stephen Montoya
4 of 6
Stephen Montoya
5 of 6
Stephen Montoya
6 of 6
Stephen Montoya
Abigail Hofbauer, the museum’s director of exhibits, recalls the monumental effort to bring Becoming Jane to Fort Worth: “This exhibit came in 63 crates. It was a massive team effort installing it — an all-hands-on-deck moment for collections, exhibits, operations, and security teams.” She is especially enthusiastic about interactive features such as the augmented reality chimpanzee and the sound booth, where visitors can test their skills by making chimpanzee calls. “I tried it when no one else was around,” Hofbauer laughs. “You sound silly, but that’s part of the joy.”
Guests will encounter a life-size hologram of Jane Goodall, hear her reflections on living among chimpanzees, and explore immersive multimedia projections of Gombe National Park. The experience culminates with a pledge station, where visitors can commit to protecting the planet—adding a virtual leaf to a growing tree of hope throughout the exhibition.
For those who want to dig deeper, the award-winning documentary “Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope” plays in the museum’s Omni Theater, offering a cinematic companion to the exhibit.
Regina Faden, president of the museum, sums it up: “The main message of this exhibit is that everybody can make a difference. As you leave, you see Jane’s call to action: individual choices really can change the world for the better.”
