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Smithsonian Exhibit: Last American Dinosaurs


abctriplets

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So while we are upset that the main fossil area (the National Fossil Hall) of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is closed for a multi-year renovation until 2019 (though I'll admit that it did need it...I remembered a lot of the exhibits from my childhood), we were thrilled that there's a new temporary exhibit titled "The Last American Dinosaurs: Discovering a Lost World," which focused on the Hell Creek Formation - where my family will be doing a few dino digs this summer!

 

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/fossil-hall/last-american-dinosaurs/

 

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This exhibit featured fossils from the museum's 2013 expedition.

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They also had the requisite paleonotologist-on-display:

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The exhibit gave a nice overview about what fossils are, and what dinosaurs were living in the region. One of the two centerpieces was the giant Triceratops at the entrance to the exhibit.

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The other centerpiece was the giant T. rex skeleton. The original/large T. rex at the Smithsonian is still being prepared for placing back into the main exhibit once it opens, but this was still impressive.

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And there were some other displays:

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This display was accompanied by a cool short video showing the unique jaw movement/chewing pattern of the Edmontosaurus.

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As for digital/interactive displays, there was a brief video about the ecosystem of the Hell Creek Formation, and a little 8-bit game about choosing to be an invertebrate or vertebrate, and seeing if you became a fossil.

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All-in-all we were quite pleased with the exhibit, and it definitely made us excited to explore the Hell Creek Formation on our own!

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Phenomenal report. This is right down the street from me, and yes it is a very impressive display. Nice photos @abctriplets

 

Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda

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Awesome report! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to see the new exhibit with the Wankel T.rex in 2019! :)  

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