Last weekend I made another trip to the Museum. This time for the Dinosaur Encounters Puppet Show. These Larger than Human-size Dinosaur Puppets are so life-like you’ll believe they are Real! As a Fellows Member the parking attendant was expecting me and provided my complimentary parking pass ($12.00 to non-Museum Membership visitors). After parking I made a visit to the Metal T-Rex and Triceratops sculptures on the corner of Exposition Blvd and Bill Robertson Lane. I wanted to capture them in the morning light. A few shots with my new camera and I was headed to the Ticket Booth.
The Ticket Booth Team had my passes for all the events I planned to attend ready for me. I was a little early for my behind the scenes tour, so I took a peak at the Gem & Mineral Collection. It was incredible the sizes of so many gems, numerous that I had never heard of before. There are beautiful samples of crystals and even meteorites! I will definitely have to come back and spend more time in this exhibit.
I made my way to the Discovery Hall where Cristina Rosales, Coordinator Fellows Advancement and Jon a Dinosaur Puppeteer were waiting to give me a behind the scenes tour. Again a benefit of Fellows Membership.
For more information on the Museum’s Membership Programs or go directly to their site. www.nhm.org click on the Join Us tab, select Membership, then Levels Benefits in the drop-down menus to see which one is best for you. There are many advantages to having a membership and it’s a great way to support the Museum!
Jon demonstrated how the puppeteers get into their Dinosaurs. In addition, like many rides at amusement parks there is a height requirement for a T-Rex Puppeteer – 6 feet. Once inside it’s like wearing a huge backpack. You have straps to secure it to you there’s a headset that allows Your Dinosaur noises to be amplified and mesh on some of the sides of the Dinosaurs to allow you to see out. I was able to practice my Dino Roars with the Triceratops microphone. Unfortunately for the Puppeteers there is no Air Conditioning inside their Dinosaur Pals. I must admit I was a little warm in the dark theater, so I can only imagine what it’s like inside their Dinosaurs during their performances. Jon and Cristina pose with Hunter the T-Rex. I had fun with Hunter and Dakota the Triceratops.
Now it’s time for the first show! Kinsey of the Natural History Museum Team reserved seating for me in the front row. Jaquita our paleontologist actor, walks out to the stage searching for bones. Shortly after Jaquita’s Triceratops bone finding. Dakota operated by Brittany wanders out to the stage. Jaquita demonstrates how we communicate with this Dinosaur by making a Triceratops Fringe with our hands around our heads and moving about. The kids young & old have a great time talking to Dakota.
Special Thanks to Lisa & Andrew handling the tech behind the scenes.
Cristina takes a picture of me in front the Ammonite replica before leaving me to discovery on my own. This Ammonite is the largest know – 6 feet 5 inches. The original is actually an incomplete fossil. It is believed that there was an additional coil that would have made it even larger! Ammonites are extinct relatives of modern day squid and Nautiluses.
Next stop theBlu! This was the last day for this wonderful virtual reality experience and it was sold out! I’m glad I made reservations more than a week in advance. This was my first VR event. The Museum team was great in explaining the equipment, what to expect and being right there if I had any concerns. Once it starts you find yourself standing on a shipwreck. The sounds are what you would hear if you were underwater in a diving suit. You can walk around it’s a 360-degree experience! An enormous blue whale passes within inches of you. Later you are in the middle of a sea of jelly fish of all sizes, some as large as you! Next in the deepest, darkest ocean were the fish are luminescent. Sorry if you missed this one. I’m hoping the Museum will have more VR experiences. How about one with Dinosaurs! Please. Maybe if we all go to the Museums website and ask nicely.
I stopped by the Museums gift shop and was happy to see two of the Dinosaur Books in my collection are available with no waiting! “Discovering Dinosaurs” by Bob Walters and Tess Kissinger and “Prehistoric Predators” by Brian Switek illustrated by Julius Csotonyi. Both have textured covers to resemble dinosaur skin. Great for Dinosaur fans of all ages. However, Julius Csotonyi illustrations are very photo realistic which older dinosaur fans will definitely appreciate.
Next Week Dinosaur Encounters continues with Hunter the T-Rex Puppet Show and other Adventures at the Natural History Museum Los Angeles.
Wishing you a Week Full of Fun & Discovery!
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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