The dinos are coming! More than a dozen animatronic dinosaurs, to be specific. “Dinosaurs Around the World” is at the Academy of Natural Sciences beginning June 30, and invites visitors to visit prehistoric Earth to see the migration and evolution of dinosaurs. From the mighty T. rex of North America, to the swift Velociraptor of the Gobi Desert, the exhibit spans the globe, and 172 million years.

This new exhibit shows how continental drift, sea level fluctuations, and volcanic activity allowed dinosaurs to exist on all continents, and live very different lives. Museum educator Mike Kaczmarczik tells us, “‘Dinosaurs Around the World’ shows not only where they lived, but when they lived, in their natural habitats, and get an idea of what adaptations they had that made each dinosaur unique and different.”

And of course, this is experienced through various lifelike and captivating animatronic dinosaurs. “It’s a playful and an educational experience for visitors of all ages,” Senior Exhibits Director Jennifer Sontchi describes. When you walk in, you will be invited to take a “Passport to Pangea” with a pencil, so you can check off the different dinosaurs you encounter in their different habitats.

Postcard-like backdrops add to the “travel” feel the exhibit is going for, while infographics explain the different continents, habitats, and eras in which these creatures lived–for example, Antarctica was tropical millions and millions of years ago!

Get Hands-On

In addition to visiting with the dinosaurs, visitors to the exhibit will also learn about current research, touch fossil casts, and even “discover” and name their own dinosaur. Stand next to a replica of a sauropod femur to imagine how you measure up to a dinosaur– photos very much encouraged.

What color were dinosaurs? It’s up to you! Sit at the activity table and grab some erasable markers to color dinosaur models. And if you need a little quiet time amidst the roaring, head to the book nook for some dinosaur-themed selections.

Don’t forget to dig for fossils and learn the tools and tricks of the trade!

Dino-mite Summer

“Dinosaurs Around the World” coincides with the museum’s Dino-mite Summer, with daily engaging activities for visitors including storytimes, Investigation Stations, and more.

Every weekday, there will be Naturalist Presentations at 2:30 pm, including “My Cousin, the Dinosaur” on Tuesdays and “How to Prepare a Fossil” on Wednesdays. And on weekends, dig deep and get messy with a rotating series of dino-themed make-and-takes, from fossil jacketing to mini-digs to building your own tiny dinosaur to take home.

Plus, the museum continues its popular monthly Dinos After Dark programming with pay-what-you-wish admission, family-friendly activities, and the Dino Drafts beer garden on Wednesday, July 24 and Friday, August 23.

“Dinosaurs Around the World” is at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, from June 30, 2019 through January 20, 2020. The exhibit is open from 10 am – 4:30 pm during the week and 10 am – 5 pm on the weekends. Admission is $7 above general admission for non-members, $4 for individual and family members, and free for Family Plus members and above.

Photographs by Laura Swartz.