Mid-America Science Museum presents an exhibit 75 million years in the making

The following is from a Mid-America Science Museum News Release.

Photo Provided by MASM

A new fully interactive exhibition called Expedition Dinosaur: Rise of the Mammals opens May 28-Aug. 20 at Mid-America Science Museum.

“This new exhibit celebrates and explores the fascinating world of Dinosaurs at their prime and the catastrophic event that may have caused their extinction, while giving rise to our own species,” Museum executive director Diane LaFollette said. “Think of it as a cross between the excitement of Jurassic Park and the adventure of Indiana Jones. We know that visitors of all ages are going to love it.”

The exhibit features large scale animatronic dinosaurs and interactive cases and displays. The exhibit company, Stage Nine Exhibits, engaged renowned paleontologist Thomas Williamson to consult and inform the exhibit.

Expedition Dinosaur: Rise of the Mammals will feature several special exhibits:

• Dinosaur fossil hunters’ Jeep truck and tools

• Interactive Dinosaur draw and animation station

• 10 Animatronic Dinosaurs and Mammals

• Full size T-Rex skull replica

• Geology interactive with augmented reality sand play

• Large Dinosaur mouth photo op

• Day of the Event Comet Puzzle

• Video fossil scanning station with interactive display

• A Dinosaur fossil dig

The exhibit is included with the Museum general admission. Adults are $12, children ages 3-12: $10, and seniors aged 65 and older, teachers and military: $11. The museum hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.midamericamuseum.org or call (501) 767-3461. The Museum follows the CDC guidelines for masks and social distancing. The museum is located at 500 Mid America Blvd. in Hot Springs.

More About the Exhibit

Photo Provided by MASM

Full-motion robotic dinosaurs with realistic movement and sound effects: Albertasaurus, Young Amargasaurus, Carnotaurus, Dilophosaurus, Iguanodon, Pachycephalosaurus, Velociraptor, Stegasaurus and a Triceratops.

Pangea Puzzle: Study of tectonic plate movement and the shape of continents before modern history.

Five-finger Robot Egg Incubator: Robotic arm used to rotate and turn simulated dinosaur eggs.

Dinosaur Egg Scanner: Insert a dinosaur egg into the scanner to learn about this fascinating piece of history.

Interactive Fossil Viewing Boxes: Presentation of simulated dinosaur fossils and digging tools accompanied by interactive sound and visual demonstrations.

Dinosaur Tracing and Rubbing Art Stations: Use embossed steel plates to rub and trace your own very own dinosaur.

Interactive 3D Topography Sandbox: Simulated topographic lines are projection-mapped into an actual sandbox. Control the contours yourself.

Dino Head Photo Op: Find yourself in the jaws of an unfriendly dinosaur.

Tools From the Field: Explore all the instruments needed to find and recover dinosaur fossils.

Dino Operation Game: See if you can excavate the T-Rex fossil before you make him roar!

Field Campaign Tent: Explore the inside of what a true dino explorer’s field tent would have looked like. And hear from a present-day paleontologist.

Mix-n-Match Dinosaur Art Spinner: Create your own dinosaur by mixing and matching various pieces of other dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Dig: Use your budding archeology skills to extract dinosaur bones from the earth. Be careful not to disturb the areas around the bones.

Dinosaur Through the Ages: Place your favorite dinosaurs in the correct age that they thrived.

Mechanical Dinosaur Movement Studies: Push-button demonstrations of how various species of dinosaurs moved and functioned in their daily lives.

Dinosaur Gizzard: Interactive demonstration of how the dinosaur digestive tract is believed to have functioned.