Dinos are Back! May 7 – September 5, 2016
In honor of its 50th anniversary, the Virginia Living Museum is bringing back some of the most popular dinosaurs on exhibit, including T-rex and Triceratops, for a summer of roaring, life-like prehistoric creatures in “Dinosaur Discoveries”.
The summer exhibit will take visitors back millions of years to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods when dinosaurs ruled the world.
Tremble at a growling teen-
aged T-rex, always a favorite with museum visitors. An Apatosaurus mother and her baby greet visitors with wide, sweeping neck motions. These peaceful plant eaters appear almost friendly as they observe their surroundings.
Observe baby dinosaurs hatching from a nest. See three different types of baby dinosaurs up-close. Use a joystick to maneuver a robotic Stegosaurus.
See the feathered Citipati, whose spectacular head crest is similar to that of a modern cassowary. This dinosaur highlights the link between non-avian dinosaurs and birds.
Who doesn’t enjoy the long crested Parasaurolophus complete with a nest and baby. The spike-backed Stegosaurus has a special feature that allows visitors to peer into the “controls” of the air-pressured mechanics of the animatronic beast! The large horned Triceratops and baby finish off the indoor exhibit of our favorite dino collection. Plus, no dino exhibit is complete without a dig pit.
But beware… outdoors you will need to dodge the water-spitting Dilophosaurus and water-shooting Bombadier Beetle, sure to cool off visitors in the hot summer months.
These lifelike creations are from Billings Productions, North America’s leading producer of animatronic dinosaurs. Each dinosaur is powered by a pneumatic system and fitted with its own electronic “brain” to activate and control fluid movements and prehistoric sounds. The robotic dinosaurs use air pistons and state-of-the art electronics under steel frames to fuel the creatures. The frames are covered with detailed foam rubber skin to simulate their lifelike appearance with bony horns, sharp claws and blade-like teeth.
Step back in time with Dinosaur Discoveries! Learn and appreciate the world’s prehistoric past and uncover its lessons for our planet’s future.
Also look for these Dino Themed extras this summer:
- Kids Dino Themed Summer Classes
- Special Planetarium Programs: Zula Patrol: Down to Earth and Dinosaur Prophecy
- “Dinosaur Days” LIVE Animal Program – A 15-Minute live animal program that explores what the world was like – and what kinds of animals were alive when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Shows will run from Jun 22-Sept 5, daily at 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm in the Wason Education Center Lobby: