Gizmo Selected to Support Ideum on San Mateo County History Museum’s New Natural History Gallery

Gizmo Art Production, Inc. is pleased to have been selected as a fabrication partner for Digging into the Past: The Peninsula’s Natural History, a new exhibition at the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City, California.

Designed and developed by Ideum in collaboration with the San Mateo County Historical Association, the exhibition will reimagine the museum’s HERO (Hannig Environmental Research Organization) Natural History Gallery, inviting visitors to explore the Peninsula’s prehistoric landscapes, Ice Age wildlife, and millions of years of natural history.

The new gallery will feature a reconstruction of Neoparadoxia, a 15-million-year-old marine mammal discovered during construction at Stanford’s Linear Accelerator Center. Visitors will also encounter a life-sized Columbian mammoth, a giant short-faced bear, and a northern elephant seal, alongside interactive experiences exploring the region’s geology, ecosystems, and changing landscape.

Supporting Ideum’s Exhibition Design

Gizmo will support Ideum’s design and development with custom exhibit fabrication, including the gallery’s title wall, orientation theater wall, and three display platforms. Our scope also includes painting the gallery walls and baseboards, as well as printing and installing large-scale interpretive murals.

These architectural elements, finishes, and environmental graphics will complement Ideum’s custom cabinetry, digital interactives, and exhibit installations, helping create a cohesive and engaging environment for museum visitors.

We’re delighted to be working with Ideum and the San Mateo County Historical Association on an exhibition that connects visitors with the remarkable natural history of the San Francisco Peninsula.