In my previous blogs I provided you with a number of destinations that cater to dinosaur lovers. My daughter recently discovered the remains of a Brachiosaurus in a very unusual location and has since made it her mission to persuade me to take her to other attractions that feature the prehistoric giants.
Consequently, I’ve been busy trying to dig up information on kid-friendly dino-destinations. We’ve done the dinosaur digs at our local children’s museum (“That was soooo yesterday, mom”), visited SUE at Chicago’s Field Museum, and planned a trip to Wyoming to uncover the remains of a Camarasaurus.
I’m dinosaured out… and we haven’t even started packing for our Jurassic trek out west. Part of me wonders how long her fascination with “Bronty” the Brontosaurus and “Timmy” the Triceratops will last. After all, she just turned three and barely remains interested in one brand of cereal long enough to finish off the box. If all goes well and our trip to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center is successful I may consider adding one more stop to our dino-adventure—Montana.
The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana is regarded by many as a must-see dinosaur attraction. It’s located on the Montana State University campus and is open to the public. Recently, scientists at the museum made three major discoveries in paleontology. The first occurred when researchers were working on a Tyrannosaurus skeleton. The group of scientists discovered soft tissue, blood vessels and cells. The find was considered monumental and many thought this first soft-tissue discovery in a fossilized organism could open the door to better understanding dinosaur DNA and proteins. The second significant discovery unearthed at the museum was the skull and frill of a baby Triceratops. The last major find: the fossils of a long-necked sea dweller called a Plesiosaurus.
In addition to the scientific discoveries, the museum is also celebrating the fact that the third and final phase of its new Siebel Dinosaur Complex is almost complete. The new addition (named The Hall of Giants) joins the existing Hall of Horns and Teeth and the Mesozoic Media Center. The Hall of Giants is scheduled to open this summer and will house the largest collection of dinosaur fossils discovered in the United States. The new hall will also be loaded with hands-on exhibits for children, specifically designed to foster the love of dinosaurs among budding paleontologists.
Not a bad way to teach your kids about history and science.
Related Articles:
“Mommy, There’s A Dinosaur In The Airport!”
Visiting the Madison Children’s Museum