The new Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibit at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond transports visitors back into a world dominated by prehistoric giants. This interactive display, located in the museum’s Dewey Gottwald Center, features sixteen fully mounted dinosaur specimens from southern continents, and explores the diverse adaptations they developed to survive the separation of the supercontinent Pangea.
As you explore, you are taken back into the Mesozoic Era, with dino roars echoing around every corner. You won’t see the usuals, like the T.rex or Velociraptor, in this display; this exhibit introduces families to lesser-known creatures. Get ready to encounter the Buitreraptor- a small bird-like predator- along with the odd-looking Simosuchus, a small crocodile-like creature. You’ll also meet the towering Cryolophosaurus, a fierce Antarctic hunter, that’s just as interesting as any famous dino.
One of the stars of the show is the Giganotosaurus, perhaps the largest land predator ever. The exhibition welcomes guests to ponder who would win a battle between Giganotosaurus and the similarly matched T.rex had they ever met from separate continents.
In addition to the awe-inspiring dinos to view, Ultimate Dinosaurs offers hands-on learning that both kids and adults will enjoy. Visitors can touch real fossils and use augmented reality to experience how today’s science has expanded knowledge of what prehistoric creatures looked and sounded like. Many of the specimens in the exhibition displayed vibrant colors, feathers and other traits that scientists have discovered in recent decades. Each specimen is paired with a designated placard offering easily readable fun facts about the survival instincts, diet, and size of each creature.
After exploring the exhibit, head to The Dome for a special viewing of Dinosaurs of Antarctica. This engaging film takes viewers to a time when Antarctica wasn’t covered in ice but was filled with lush forests and swamps. Dinosaurs of Antarctica reveals how these prehistoric creatures once thrived in an environment we never imagined. Ultimate Dinosaurs, at Science Museum of Virginia through September 1, is the perfect destination for a full day of family fun and learning. Entrance to the exhibition requires purchasing an add-on ticket or through a combination admission that also includes a show in The Dome such as Dinosaurs of Antarctica. To enjoy the museum, Ultimate Dinosaurs, and The Dome all summer long, a Science Museum membership is the way to go.
