Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery Fact sheet

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WHAT

Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery

WHERE

Science Museum of Minnesota, level 3
120 West Kellogg Boulevard
Downtown St. Paul

WHY

The Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery is one of the highlights of the Science Museum of Minnesota. The gallery features one-of-a-kind dinosaur and fossil displays and interactive exhibits, giving visitors an unparalleled opportunity to experience the museum's world-class collections of prehistoric specimens.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery covers 11,000 square feet of exhibit area adjacent to the Science Museum's scenic atrium, where three-story tall glass walls give panoramic views of the Mississippi River and provide streams of natural light.

Diplodocus: The mounted skeleton of the 82-foot-long Diplodocus lets visitors come face to face with one of the largest creatures ever to roam the earth. The Science Museum's Diplodocus joined the museum collection in 1990. It is the largest dinosaur in the museum's display and was discovered by local high school students.

Allosaurus: This twenty-foot skeleton from a juvenile individual form Utah is the sole meat-eater in the Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery.

Camptosaurus: The Science Museum's Camptosaurus, a unique highlight of the paleontology collection since 1991, is the largest Camptosaurus by far that has ever been discovered. It dates from 150 million years ago. Near by, another Camptosaurus cast skeleton is on display.

Triceratops: The Science Museum's Triceratops, one of only four mounted Triceratops anywhere in the world, is also the largest complete Triceratops specimen on display. It is one of the most treasured pieces in the museum's collection.

Stegosaurus: Was this a solar-powered dinosaur? Visitors can learn why some scientists think so when they check out the cast skeleton of a Stegosaurus, a dinosaur known for the distinctive plates located along the ridge of its back.

T. rex Jaws Interactive: The Tyrannosaurus rex was a formidable predator with massive, powerful jaws capable of taking down much larger prey. In the Dinosaurs and Fossils gallery, visitors can operate a giant set of T. rex jaws, recreating the T. rex's trademark giant-sized bite.

Primeval Swamp: Based on 25 years of Science Museum research in the Wannagan Creek quarry in modern-day North Dakota, this area gives visitors a never-before-seen glimpse of life, ecosystems, species, and climatic conditions in the period following the dinosaurs' extinction. Experiment with an interactive computer time machine, use a periscope to see "underwater," see actual fossil skeletons and specimens, and hop on a "climbable" timeline to take a stroll through millions of years of geological history.

Masterpiece Gallery: Opal, amber, minerals, and fossils are set off in a darkened area specially designed to let visitors see the exquisite colors and details. This area includes a single feather estimated to be 150 million years old, hundred-million-year-old fossilized plant leaves, and other prehistoric treasures.

Thescelosaurus cast and flesh reconstruction. Visitors can imagine what a living Thescelosaurus might have looked like, and think about how paleontologists "flesh out" the images of the fossilized skeletons they discover, when they examine this Thescelosaurus skeleton beside a flesh reconstruction.

Centrosaurus skull cast: Centrosaurus is a ceratopsian. Like Triceratops, it is famous for its specialized head gear – namely a frill and lots of small horns. Centrosaurus is also one of the only dinosaurs whose fossil remains yield evidence of herding.

Dromaeosaurus cast: This seven-foot-long relative of the Velociraptor dates from 70 million years ago.

Compsognathus cast: This small, 150-million-year-old dinosaur is one of the smallest dinosaurs ever discovered. This cast is the only freestanding Compsognathus in any museum.

Oligocene mammals and reptiles: Exceptional mounted skeletons of North American creatures from 35 million years ago introduce visitors to predecessors of hyenas, camels, horses, turtles, rodents, deer, and antelopes.

Xiphactinus: This 12½ -foot-long "sea monster" from 70 million years ago was one of the largest bony fish ever to swim in the Earth's oceans.

Quetzalcoatlus: Mounted soaring above the museum's lobby on level 5, the 30-foot-wingspan Quetzalcoatlus, is the largest flying reptile ever discovered.

The "Bone Zone": Kids love this hands-on paleontology exploration area.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Janine Hanson, PR Director, (651) 221-9423
Sarah Imholte, PR Coordinator, (651) 221-9412