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You’ve watched the cartoons, seen the movies, and read the books. You might have seen the occasional animatronic dinosaur or two. But you have never encountered dinosaurs like you will in the new Dinosphere®.
And now, at long last, Dinosphere®is open to the public This awe-inspiring immersive exhibit is full of authentic fossils, memorable experiences that include a sound and light show, engaging interactive programming, hands-on objects, and one-of-a-kind discoveries with real scientists as they continue to work in our two operating paleo labs. You’ll also have the opportunity to let your imagination run wild as you combine scientific discovery with artistic creativity in the Dinosphere Art Lab.
We know you’re excited. We’re excited, too! We can’t wait to share this new, amazing experience with you! Here’s what you need to know in order to be prepared for your visit to Dinosphere® once it opens.
5 tips for visiting the new Dinosphere®
1. Buy tickets in advance
We anticipate a huge turnout for Dinosphere® in the weeks surrounding Spring Break. It’s one of the most popular times for people to visit the museum, and we’re reopening our most-popular exhibit. Throw in the fact that the museum continues to operate at a lower capacity and there’s a good chance that some days might sell out.
Buying your tickets in advance will ensure admission to the museum on the day you plan to visit. We also recommend that museum members reserve their tickets ahead of time. Day-of ticket purchases will only be available when capacity allows.
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2. Get here early—and keep your phone with you
On days when we expect high attendance, Dinosphere will use a virtual line so that you can continue to explore the museum while you wait for your turn in the exhibit. On these days, you will simply scan the QR code located in the Welcome Center or scan your ticket or membership card at one of our kiosks to add your name to the waiting list. We’ll send you a text and email when it’s your turn to explore the new exhibit, so make sure you have your phone with you! We suggest arriving early (we open daily at 10 a.m.).
3. Dinosphere® is adapted for accessibility
As you walk down the ramp to enter Dinosphere®, the lights will dim and the sounds will get louder. By the time you reach the sauropods in Giants of the Jurassic™, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into a Jurassic savannah. You might remember a thunderstorm when you visited the watering hole in the original Dinosphere®. That’s still there in Creatures of the Cretaceous™. We understand that all of the sounds and lighting effects can be a bit too much for some of our guests. Every day, from 4–5 p.m., the lights will be turned up and the sounds will be turned down.
There are other enhancements to the Dinosphere® experience that you might not even notice at first—like flattened areas on the ramp that allow our visitors who use wheelchairs and walking devices to have a level place to stop and explore Giants of the Jurassic™ (look for the large carpeted squares on the ramp). Or it might be the sculptures in the Dinosphere Art Lab that were created with the tactile learner in mind.
We want to make sure Dinosphere® is accessible to everyone.
4. There's more than just the fossils
From the tops of the trees to the prehistoric seas, your jaw will drop when you encounter the amazing specimens on display, Monsters of the Mesozoic Seas™, Creatures of the Cretaceous™, and the sauropods—the ones dug up by our scientists along the Jurassic Mile™ dig site in Wyoming—in Giants of the Jurassic™. But did you know that the new Dinosphere® is so much more than the objects on display? There’s a whole day full of live interactive experiences in Dinosphere®.
Here’s a taste:
- Go on a “diving” expedition with your family and go deep into an ancient aquatic treasure trove
- Our Actor Interpreters will help you explore titans of the Jurassic
- Get up close and personal with some of your favorite Cretaceous dinosaurs
- Become a paleo art storyteller and pair your scientific knowledge with a spark of creativity
- We’ve created a brand-new show that you’ll find exclusively in the Sunburst Atrium
There’s so much more. Seriously. You could spend a day just engaging in all of our live Dinosphere® experiences, and you might not be able to fit it all in (ahem, yet another reason why having a membership is such a great deal—unlimited visits)!
Check out our calendar for specific dates and times.
5. Make sure to talk to our scientists
Our scientists have been busy in the R.B. Annis Mission Jurassic Paleo Lab and the Polly H. Hix Paleo Prep Lab, cleaning, preparing, studying, and researching the real fossils they dug up from the Jurassic Mile™ dig site in Wyoming. The discoveries about these creatures aren’t over yet. In fact, the discovery has just begun.
They’re excited to share their stories with you!
Adventure awaits!
A whole new world is just waiting for you to explore. We can’t wait for you to walk among the dinosaurs!
