Museum of Science, Boston

Exhibit [Return to listing page]
Blue Wing, Lower Level

The evidence we collect through the fossil record tells a tantalizingly incomplete and still evolving tale. Here, through fossils and life-size models, visitors get a sense of how paleontologists continue to compile evidence, changing the way we view these extinct animals.

Perhaps most emblematic of that change is our full-size model of Tyrannosaurus rex standing at the center of this exhibit. Our first T. rex, created in the 1960s (and now holding court in the Museum's drive), was based on all of the evidence that paleontologists had at the time: three very incomplete skeletons. Today, we have uncovered well over 30 skeletons—some almost complete—leading to the very agile and trim T.rex model on display.

Fossils are the clues that provide the evidence, and models give shape to the clues that we find. This exhibit encourages you to explore some of these fossil clues: bones, footprints—even dinosaur dung. Compare the bones of a bird, an iguana and a dinosaur, and see how today's evidence tells us that at least one branch of dinosaurs is much more closely related to birds than we ever imagined.

At our "Who's in the Family?" mural, figure out what separates dinosaurs from other ancient animals—and which dinosaurs eventually lead us to birds. Examine our "bone dictionaries" to explore mystery skeletons, play with scale models of the Coelophysis, and use the computer kiosks to find out more about our Mesozoic murals. Finally, try to imagine what future dinosaur models might look like.