This exhibit traces how cultivated peppers traveled from Central and South America to quickly make their way around the globe. A delectable display of pepper-based salsas, curries and spices highlight how peppers are key ingredients of signature dishes worldwide.
Several of our natural areas are closed during firearm season, which runs November 16 - December 17, 2024
Natural Area Closings
X
Dispersal of Chile Peppers
Trace the spread of peppers from its origin in Bolivia and Southern Brazil across the Atlantic to Europe and on to China; to Africa, Indian and Southeast Asia via Portuguese merchants.
The Peppers We Eat
There are 22 known wild pepper species and 5 domesticated ones. Many varieties of each domesticated species developed in different areas as peppers were spread with the movement of people.
Some Like it Hot!
The hotness of a pepper is measured by the Scoville Heat Scale, a series of “heat units” that range from 0 to 16 million depending on the pepper’s concentration of the chemical capsaicin.
More Exhibits
Past Exhibit
White Pine: Tree of Peace
The white pine is a powerful cultural symbol of peace to the Haudenosaunee.