Our new exhibits at the Dunes Center bring together the science, art, and beauty of the Dunes. They engage visitors on many levels—through intellect, curiosity, creativity and spirit—so that they can experience the Dunes in a whole new way. You’ll discover an eclectic collection of artifacts, and curiosities, and you’ll likely find people in animated discussion over unearthed relics from a 1920s silent movie set. You can listen to the sounds of wildlife, observe living creatures, explore sand collected from all over the world, and learn about the people who have raised families and thrived on the region’s rich terrain.
When did the Dunes first form? What are drift balls? Our exhibits are designed to pique visitors’ curiosity and instill an appreciation for the Dunes as an exquisite web of ecosystems, some of which are rare and threatened. Our wish is for visitors to leave with a deeper awareness of and connection to this magnificent terrain, and maybe even be inspired to help us protect it for future generations.
The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille
In 1923, pioneer filmmaker Cecil. B. DeMille built the largest set in movie history in the dunes near Guadalupe, California, for his silent epic, The Ten Commandments. The Dunes Center offers visitors a unique and fascinating exhibit featuring a variety of artifacts from the both the set and the people who were working on the production.
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Habitats
Discover how the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes is one of the most beautiful, ecologically significant, and largest dune ecosystems on Earth. Peer into our aquarium and terrarium for an up-close look at some of the fish and amphibians that dwell in freshwater lakes and streams, as well as insects and reptiles that burrow beneath the warm sandy slopes.
Cabinet of Curiosities
Explore artifacts that reflect the colorful mosaic of history and habitats that make up the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes. An overarching theme in this exhibit is the work of local Dunes activist and pioneer environmentalist Kathleen Goddard Jones.
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Sand
In 1923, pioneer filmmaker Cecil. B. DeMille built the largest set in movie history in the dunes near Guadalupe, California, for his silent epic, The Ten Commandments. The Dunes Center offers visitors a unique and fascinating exhibit featuring a variety of artifacts from the both the set and the people who were working on the production.
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Growing Roots
In 1923, pioneer filmmaker Cecil. B. DeMille built the largest set in movie history in the dunes near Guadalupe, California, for his silent epic, The Ten Commandments. The Dunes Center offers visitors a unique and fascinating exhibit featuring a variety of artifacts from the both the set and the people who were working on the production.
Learn more
And more
In 1923, pioneer filmmaker Cecil. B. DeMille built the largest set in movie history in the dunes near Guadalupe, California, for his silent epic, The Ten Commandments. The Dunes Center offers visitors a unique and fascinating exhibit featuring a variety of artifacts from the both the set and the people who were working on the production.
Learn more
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