Kevin has been to many Libraries some a few times for “Family Story Time” and helping me complete research. Wednesday was his first trip to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. It was Great! As soon as we arrived, we were met by my “Fellows Membership” Coordinator, Cristina Rosales. Cristina had made it possible for Kevin to join me on the Museum Tour. After All, You can’t have Dinosaurs just roaming about! It didn’t take a minute and Kevin was making new friends right and left.
Kevin posed with a number of visitors in front of the T-Rex & Triceratops “Dueling Dinosaurs” display. One young lady had a plush Triceratops of her own, which got along fine with Kevin. Her friend was quick to join in, but their Moms were a little camera shy. Another family introduced themselves to Kevin and one of the brothers shared his Dinosaur Roar! A young lady with Mom & Dad produced a pretty impressive roar herself. Before moving on a young lady that has a Museum Membership posed with Kevin (note red circle member sticker on her T-shirt).
The Museum has a number of Membership options there is certainly one that would be great for you. Check them out online or call the Museum (213) 763-3426 and discuss the choices with a pleasant membership coordinator.
After covering the ground rules for Kevin’s visit – “No Eating the Other Guests” – with Cristina, we headed to Dinosaur Hall. Well where did you think we would start? We met another Triceratops, face to face with a T-Rex skull, where dwarfed by a Sauropod display and were amazed by the interactive displays and the wall mounted Mosasaur with baby. Then we entered the main hall. A Camptosaurus (that could walk upright as well as on all fours) and a Carnotaurus are the first to greet us.
Now we reach what Kevin has been waiting for the Tyrannosaurus Rex Growth series the only Trio in the World! Three different size T-Rex Skulls in a row. And the Adult, Juvenile and Baby complete display. Wow Kevin adds a fourth level to the series – a Hatchling! Kevin’s egg is several times larger than a typical T-Rex egg. Kevin’s mother must have been the Biggest T-Rex Ever! We marveled at the Hadrosaur Mural and fossil display. The Ceratopsians skull comparison was very interesting. We were photo bombed while checking out the Allosaurus and Stegosaurus.
After leaving Dinosaur Hall we headed up to the Discovery Center where the human size puppets hang out – Hunter the T-Rex and Dakota the Triceratops. Before entering the Hall, we posed with the largest known Ammonite! Hunter & Dakota where waiting for us. The white etching on the glass shows you the positions for the puppet operators. I bet it gets really hot in there!
There are many things to see in the Center hiding in terrariums. There’s a Drawing Table and “Let’s Dig” area. You can uncover fossils and learn from which animals they belong. After strolling through the “Visible Vault” we spent some time in Bird Hall visiting Kevin’s great, great, great, great, great… (you get the idea) grand relatives. In the Dino Lab we watched a Real Paleontologist excavating fossilized bone from the rocks brought back from a Real Fossil Dig Site!
We needed to start our trip home, but there was so much more to see – the Rainforest, North American Mammal Hall, the Nature Lab, African Mammal Hall, Age of Mammals, Special Exhibits, a Mural Remembering LA, Becoming Los Angeles and the Gem & Mineral Hall. They have actual Meteorites on display in the Mineral Hall. Given Kevin’s Family History, he wasn’t ready to see any Meteors this trip. On our way to the parking lot Kevin made some more friends by the ticket booth.
We will pickup where we left off with Stephanie the Stegosaurus next week!
Mark Your Calendars:
3:00 pm August 30th at the Vernon Branch Library
4504 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
323-234-9106
Join Kevin the T-Rex hatchling & I for a Reading of Dinosaur Fun Facts & Fiction to be followed by
a “How to Draw Dinosaurs” Activity!
7:00 pm September 18th at The City of Camarillo Library
4101 Las Posas Road, Camarillo, CA
805-388-5222
Join Alejandro the T-Rex and I for a Reading of Dinosaur Fun Facts & Fiction at
“Family Story Time”
to be followed by
a “How to Draw Dinosaurs” Activity!
Join Angie the Augustynolophus & Me for Complementary Dinosaur Painting
at Natural History Museum’s 3rd Annual Everything Dinosaur “Dino Fest” Weekend September 29th & 30th
Angie is looking forward to some New Splashes of Color
Plus learn what we know about the Color of Dinosaurs at Our Tent in the Garden!
“Encouraging the Appreciation of Art and Education through the Inspiration of Dinosaurs”
Paul & Prehistoric Pals
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