20 Dinosaur Museums & Prehistoric Places We Dig

christadiserio said:  You could take a week to view all of the natural wonders in this natural history museum that houses the Hope Diamond, a room with live butterflies, and even a live coral reef. The museum's collection of gigantic dinosaur skeletons, human remains, fossils, meteorites and more is nothing short of impressive.

Emily N said:  The Museum of Natural History is probably one the most iconic museums in NYC and another must-see. There is so much to see in this huge museum that it calls for multiple visits! Kids love the dinosaurs (who doesn't?!), the giant whale who hangs from the ceiling at the Hall of Ocean Life and of course the very cool planetarium. AMNH hosts events and programs throughout the year for children and families as well making it the perfect place to return to again and again.

Kelly R. said:  Explore hundreds of fossilized dinosaur tracks in the domed exhibit center, only a small portion of the tracks that have been discovered at this cool Connecticut dinosaur spot. There are a variety of interactive exhibits and activities for kids, and families are even welcome to cast a souvenir dinosaur footprint (you must bring your own supplies).

Kelly R. said:  One of the best Columbus family attractions, COSI is a hands-on science center featuring a giant screen theater, planetarium, and a number of exhibits including a dinosaur gallery, an interactive ocean area and an outdoor science park. Everything at COSI is kid friendly, but the fabulous Little Kidspace keeps the first-grade and under set coming back.

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  A host of science-based exhibits thrill families, including a garden walk & insect zoo, indoor lightning demonstrations and a play-based park exhibit where kids can learn about the science of motion. Dinosaur lovers won't want to miss the nearly-complete triceratops skeleton and full-size T-rex model. Kids love shows in the 4-D theater, planetarium and IMAX dome.

Shila said:  Chicago Children's Museum is located at Navy Pier along with restaurants and cruise boats. Hands-on exhibits include digging for bones at Dinosaur Expedition, and getting your fingertips wet at Waterways. There are also a couple indoor playgrounds, one at the Kovler Family Climbing Schooner and another at the enchanting forest exhibit, Treehouse Trails.

Sarah Calamita said:  If you have dinosaur lovers this is THE place to go. The great thing is you can go in and spend a few hours inside, but then it is right on the lake so you can spend time outside and walk the path along the lake! It is an amazing museum. Don't miss the SUE exhibit!

Shila said:  The Dinosaur Discovery Museum is part of the Kenosha Public Museum, and displays casts of actual dinosaur fossil bones in the main gallery. Families can see cool artifacts while exploring the museum, and the gallery wall projects environmental & animal sounds.

Always free admission

Stephanie W. said:  This dinosaur park near Fort Worth has preserved Sauropod and Theropod tracks at multiple sites along the Paluxy riverbed. In addition to the dinosaur experience, families can hike, bike, camp, and swim or fish in the river.

Stephanie W. said:  This fun dinosaur place in the Black Hills is on a sandstone ridge where dinosaurs have been found. There are life-size dinosaur sculptures to check out as you wander the park, a gift shop and visitor center, and gorgeous 100-mile views of the South Dakota Badlands.

Gina I. said:  This National Natural Landmark is considered the top dinosaur tracksite in America. One of the most kid friendly things to do in Denver, children can explore tracks and fossils on the famous Dinosaur Ridge Trail (a self-guided walking tour is free). There's a visitor's center with a Triceratops skull, T-rex teeth, and hands-on experiences like a simulated dinosaur dig!

Kelly R. said:  This geology and paleontology museum on the Casper College campus is well worth a trip with dinosaur loving kids...just look for the life-size T-Rex statue outside. Many amazing finds are packed into a small space, including an enormous Columbian Mammoth skeleton, a Torosaurus skull and hands-on dinosaur exhibits for kids.

Kelly R. said:  A terrific dinosaur museum has many mounted skeletons on display, along with information about how the species lived. There are active dinosaur dig sites here, and visitors of all ages can choose to take a tour or participate in an actual dig experience.

Kelly R. said:  This small but mighty dinosaur museum in Montana has some amazing fossils on display, including a Stegosaurus, Camarasaurus and duck-billed dinosaurs. Check out the cool Junior Paleontologist experience for your dinosaur lovers, which offers a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum and fossil preparation lab.

Kelly R. said:  The main attraction here is the enormous wall of dinosaur bones inside the Quarry Exhibit Hall, with 1,500 Late Jurassic fossils from Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus and more. There are even places where you can touch! If you have more time to spare, the park offers amazing views, pteroglyph hikes and river rafting.

Kelly R. said:  Walk a half mile dinosaur trail to view over 100 lifelike dinosaur models set among amazing vistas. An indoor dinosaur museum has a small number of exhibits, and kids love adding on the 5D prehistoric aquarium and 3D movie experiences.

Kristy Pepping said:  Don't miss this pit stop for kids who love dinosaurs when you're visiting Los Angeles! Remember them from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure? The park includes a dinosaur walk, dino dig, fossil panning and access to climb inside Mr. Rex all the way up to his mouth.

Erynn said:  The whole family can learn about birds, dinosaurs, insects, mammals, and more at the Natural History Museum. Beyond their regular family-friendly exhibits, the museum caters to kids with touchable minerals, furs and fossils, authentic scientific exploration tools, and an insect zoo. Interactive shows (some feature actors dressed as dinosaurs!) round out the educational entertainment.

Kelly R. said:  This natural history and culture museum is on the University of Washington camps, and keeps kids in mind with a variety of hands-on stations. A paleontology floor shows off real dinosaur fossils (the only ones on display in Washington state), including one of the best-preserved T-Rex skulls in the world.

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Kelly R. said:  There are 23 dinosaur replicas to discover on a self-guided forest tour at this fun coastal Oregon roadside attraction. It's cool to get a feel for how large these dinosaurs really were, as the models are designed true-to-life based on mounted fossil skeletons at some of the best dinosaur museums in the US.