Its
time to get excited about dinosaurs! The 2nd annual Dinosaurs
Alive! Life-size Animatronic Dinosaurs at the Heard exhibit
opened October 19, 2007 with even more dinosaurs! There are fourteen
dinosaurs including twelve life-size animatronic dinosaurs and two
static baby dinosaurs that kids can play on. The exhibit gives families
and friends a unique, exciting and educational activity to experience
together and provide an ideal family outing during the holidays.
The dinosaurs are at the Heard through Feb. 24, 2008.
Thirteen
new dinosaurs include the Stegosaurus, Triceratops & baby,
Brachiosaurus, Dilophosaurus (which randomly “spits”
water!), Apatosaurus & baby, Pachycephalosaurus, Parasaurolophus
& baby, Metricanthosaurus and two static baby dinosaurs that
kids can climb all over.
Learn interesting
dinosaur facts as you not only see them move, but hear them, too!
Check out
both herbivores and carnivores and the return of the infamous
Tyrannosaurus Rex!
A
dinosaur-theme indoor exhibit also compliments the outdoor exhibit,
and dinosaur toys, books, figurines, shirts and other items
are available in the museum store.
Visitors
also get the chance to experience a new Heard nature trail!
The dinosaurs are situated along a ½ mile trail that
features prairie habitat and has fewer steps and slopes than
our other trails making it more jogging stroller and elderly-friendly;
however, the trail is not handicap accessible.
To compliment the fun happening outside there is a fascinating and educational in-door exhibit called Prehistoric Texas. It is a tour through early time beginning when life began and moving through early sea life, the forests of the carboniferous and up through the wild dinosaurs and sea monsters of the Cretaceous. Stressing the Texas Cretaceous, this exhibit illustrates the diversity of fossils found here and explains why we had mostly aquatic prehistoric life and few actual dinosaurs.
The many changes in environment and climate are noted, as are extinctions. The huge elephants of the Eocene are also described and many of these prehistoric wonders are illustrated with actual bones and fossils. We have a significant collection of Cretaceous fossils including Texas echinoids, ammonites and a shark tooth collection. Various skulls are also on display including our very own Tylosaur skull as well as a loaned T-Rex skull and two dinosaur skulls from the Triceratops family. In fact, the T-Rex skull may possibly be one of the top three T-rex skulls ever unearthed! Visitors will also get to see an Ankylosaur tail club, a complete baby dinosaur skeleton, a Duckbill skull and a six-foot Pterandon Wing. An impressive collection of petrified wood will also be on display as well as a few other surprises!
This beautiful mural painted by artists, Oksana Marchenko and Jane Burrell features prehistoric dinosaurs, insects and other creatures. Kid’s can point out the different creatures, learn about the fossilization process, color and do other fun activities in this room.
Thank you to all of our 2007 Dinosaurs Alive! Sponsors
