Escape to the Age of Dinosaurs at Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Safely explore dinosaur exhibits and more at Pittsburgh's must-see Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
The internationally famed hometown museum known for dinosaurs (especially Dippy) is an excellent place to escape the stresses of 2020. Mask up and travel back in time to the Age of Dinosaurs. From on-site exhibitions to online programming, there’s always a way to learn about dinosaurs with museum experts.
DinoFest set to welcome dinosaur lovers of all ages
Enjoy hands-on activities throughout Dinosaurs in Their Time, Discovery Basecamp, and the Foster Overlook that explore how dinosaurs lived and how paleontologists work in the field. Whether you want to stomp like a dinosaur across the room, sit and sketch dinosaur skeletons, or speak with an expert about identifying and storing fossils, there is something for everyone.
Activities are designed for kids ages 5-12 and their families; they include:
• Identifying fossils as a dinosaur detective.
• Measuring Dippy, our beloved Diplodocus carnegii, from the snout to the tip of the tail.
• Turning classic yoga poses into paleo-themed movements during Dino Yoga.
• Learning how to make fossil rubbings.
• Creating your own coloring page inspired by dinosaur fossils.
• Exploring the journey of how birds evolved from their dinosaur ancestors.
Expert Talks:
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Dr. Sarah Davis, Collection Manager of Paleobiology, presents “Deciphering the Colors of Extinct Dinosaurs.”
1:00-2:00 p.m.: Dr. Matt Lamanna, Mary R. Dawson Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology and senior dinosaur researcher, presents “The Mysterious Megaraptorids: Giant-Clawed Meat-Eating Dinosaurs from the Southern Continents.”
PaleoLab Talks: 10:15–10:45 a.m., 2:15–2:45 p.m., and 3:15–3:45 p.m.
Learn about restoring fossil specimens from Scientific Preparator Dan Pickering.
Click here to register for DinoFest.
See the Original Fossil of the World’s Most Famous Dinosaur: T. rex
Even though you may know T. rex best from Jurassic Park, this fearsome carnivore actually lived during the late Cretaceous Period, about 66 to 68 million years ago. It could weigh up to seven tons and grow to 46 feet long. Carnegie Museum of Natural History is home to the holotype T. rex - the first fossil of the species recognized by science.
Get to Know Dippy the Dinosaur
Dippy (short for Diplodocus carnegii) is a fern-munching herbivore and Pittsburgh icon. Dippy’s fossil is the holotype specimen (first ever described example) of Diplodocus carnegii, named for museum founder Andrew Carnegie. The real Dippy fossil awaits you in the museum’s Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition. There are casts of Dippy all over the world including Paris, Berlin, and Buenos Aires. And he was in Star Wars (probably).
When you visit, don’t forget to stop by the Dippy statue to check out his mask. He wears it in solidarity with his human companions to remind us all to #MaskUpPGH and stay safe.
Study Up on Dinos Before Your Visit
A little pre-trip research will make your visit to Carnegie Museum of Natural History even more enjoyable, and there’s plenty to learn about dinosaurs on the museum’s website and social channels. Watch the first episode of Science Chats to hear their curator of amphibians and reptiles chat about dinosaurs with their head dinosaur researcher. Visit the museum’s website to get some background on the exhibition Dinosaurs in Their Time and read the latest dinosaur-related blog posts. Or head over to their TikTok channel to find dinosaur facts sprinkled in between snail jokes, cute animal videos, and facts about other museum areas of expertise.
This blog post is sponsored by Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Related Blogs
Insider’s Guide: Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History
What’s Cool at Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Explore All That Glitters at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh
Sea Monsters, Botany and Dancing Bees: One-of-a-Kind Museum Exhibition Updates
Holiday Cheer at Carnegie Museum of Natural History (and online)
