A Summer Search for Clues
The summer vacation quiz “Cross & Cross—Searching for Clues at the Natural History Museum” starts on June 29!
Mainz. During summer vacation, the Natural History Museum in Mainz transforms into an exciting puzzle-filled venue full of tricky questions!
In the summer vacation quiz “Crossword – Searching for Clues in the Museum,” preschoolers, elementary school students, and middle school students up to 8th grade are invited to go on a clue hunt in the museum.
Equipped with a clipboard and pencil, the kids and teens follow mysterious clues through the various geological eras. Clues such as footprints and traces of skin or fur are some of the topics that puzzle enthusiasts must examine, compare, and correctly identify.
Whether it’s a mysterious case in the water, unusual stomach contents, or strikingly elongated incisors—every clue leads to new insights into the flora and fauna of bygone eras.
The tasks range from identifying fossils and footprints to reconstructing skeletons and discovering hidden clues and connections in the exhibition halls. For younger participants, the quiz also includes hidden-object pictures that let them learn more about the history of the various animals in the museum in a playful way. At the same time, the participating kids develop their own talents as trackers.
From June 29 through August 9, participants will find the quiz station in the museum foyer. It’s worth taking part, because thanks to the support of Rheinhessen Sparkasse, there are many prizes to be won afterward.
At the awards ceremony on September 23, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., the winners will be honored by Ludwig Holle, Head of the Department of Construction, Monument Preservation, and Historical Heritage.
