This Summer, Dinosaurs Are Coming to the Montshire Museum of Science!
Get ready for an exciting summer of dinosaur eggs, larger-than-life dinosaur bones, and joyful moments of discovery when dinosaurs take over the Montshire Museum of Science! On Saturday, May 29, the Montshire will open the special exhibition experience, Summer of Dinosaurs. Explore the lives of dinosaurs, big and small, through exhibits about dinosaur eggs and babies, dramatic dinosaur fossil specimens, and a series of special events and programs for all ages.
In the Montshire’s main atrium gallery, see Amazing Allosauruses, featuring a life-sized adult (23 feet long!) and a juvenile Allosaurus. These carnivorous theropod dinosaurs lived 155 to 145 million years ago during the late Jurassic period. During this time, they were the largest predators, placing them at the top of the dinosaur food chain! Some paleontologists believe that the Allosaurus were social creatures who hunted in packs. View this family of fossil specimens at the Museum this summer!
On the second floor, visitors can catch a rare and exciting glimpse at the lives of dinosaurs through their eggs, nests, and embryos in Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies. This remarkable exhibition offers an astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all over the globe—including those of each of the major plant and meat-eating dinosaur groups.
A captivating experience for all ages, Tiny Titans invites visitors to explore real dinosaur bones and reconstructed nests, dig for eggs, experience exploration stations, and view animated video presentations featuring well-known dinosaur experts. Each science-rich section is enhanced with exciting life-like models of embryos and hatchlings, colorful illustrations of dinosaur family life, and stunning photographs of some of the world’s most renowned dinosaur scientists and their discoveries.
In addition to the dinosaur exhibition, the Montshire’s galleries will feature perennial favorites, such as Bubbles: Science in Soap, Discovering the Natural World, Life in Local Waters, Air Works, and Wonder Woods.
Visitors will be encouraged to spend a portion of their visit outdoors on the Montshire’s 110-acre landscape. The outdoor experience will include STEM-based exhibits in the Hughes Pavilion, miles of walking trails, water play experiences in David Goudy Science Park, and The Play Grove, the whimsical nature play area nestled at the intersection of the Montshire’s Meadow Walk and River Loop Trails.
All summer long, the outdoor Science Discovery Lab will host regularly-scheduled activities, with special days dedicated to dinosaur-related science experiments and projects. A special week of activities will mark the opening of the Summer of Dinosaurs. From Saturday, May 29th through Friday, June 4th, visitors can participate in a series of fun activities, which include:
- Guided tours of the Allosaurus, from tooth to claw
- Making your own model fossil using clay and plaster
- Exploring the Montshire’s hands-on fossil collection
- Building a hatching baby dinosaur to take home
In the months ahead, there will be multiple opportunities to support the Montshire through Triassic Trilogy: In Support of Science, a series of fundraising events that help to move forward the Montshire’s mission of science education.
The Triassic Trilogy consists of:
Fiddlehead Fling Reimagined: A Virtual Event, Friday, May 7
This fresh take on the Montshire’s annual benefit event relocates from the museum galleries to the Zoom room. This virtual evening event includes a gift box of culinary treats, a booklet of activities, and a conversation with dinosaur expert Dustin Growick, whose unique blend of knowledge and humor will guarantee an evening to remember.
Dino Drive-In, July
Enjoy an evening at the drive-in with your family! Popcorn, games, and a dinosaur movie, all under the summer night sky.
Science Park Soiree, September
Toast to the start of a new season at an outdoor cocktail party in Science Park (contingent upon gathering restrictions and guidelines).
This summer, explore the Summer of Dinosaurs and discover the joy, the wonder, and the science behind these phenomenal creatures that once roamed the earth!
Summer of Dinosaurs will close on Sunday, September 26.