The World's Largest Dinosaurs: A Groundbreaking Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History

4/17/11 - By Stephanie Ogozalek

There's something huge at the American Museum of Natural History, and I'm not talking about the Blue Whale. I'm referring to the groundbreaking new exhibit The World’s Largest Dinosaurs, which is sure to be a big hit with amateur paleontologists young and old. This fascinating show focuses on the supersized sauropods, and goes beyond dusty old bones to examine these giants as the living creatures they once were.

This exhibit isn’t about when but how these animals lived and thrived for 140,000 years. Their story is told in different sections, each with kid-friendly interactives and tons of models, which delve into the physiology and biology of these enormous creatures. We explored the exhibit last week, and you won’t want to miss this innovate spotlight on the sauropods.

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Sauropods could grow to be as long as four city buses, and were the largest land-dwelling animals ever. Upon entering the exhibit, visitors are greeted with the amazingly realistic head of the Argentinosaurus, the largest of large.

Throughout the hall families can learn everything they've ever wanted to know about these creatures. Ever wonder how much they had to eat to fuel those massive bodies? Answer: 100,000 calories a day (we're jealous!), which is represented by a 5½-foot cube of vegetation that the dinos wouldn’t chew and swallow, but simply gulp down whole. How did their minuscule four-ounce brains power their tremendous bodies? Hint: It isn’t the double brain theory previously believed. And did you know that they didn’t sweat?   This type of info, plus lots of other cool facts are sure to fascinate your family.

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Standing as big as a tractor trailer in the center of the room is the highlight of the exhibit: the 60-foot-long, life-sized model of an 18-year-old female Mamenchisaurus. On one side of the formidable creature you can see her skin. Walk around her 30-foot-neck to the other side and you'll see her insides, including her lungs and heart. A video projected onto her torso illustrates her respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems.

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At the end of the exhibit there is a dig pit, inspired by Howe Quarry in Wyoming, that kids will just love. Using real tools, they can experience firsthand how dinosaur fossils are unearthed.



There's also a lot of great special programming scheduled in conjunction with this monumental exhibit.

Sundays Under the Whale: Living Large

Sunday, May 15 noon-4 pm
Milstein Hall of Ocean Life
Free with museum admission
Learn about dinosaurs from scientists. How did they get so large? How did they survive? And much more.

ID Day
Saturday, June 4 noon-4 pm
Grand Gallery
Free with museum admission
Visitors can bring old rocks and fossils to the museum for scientists to identify. The day will have a dino bent. Additional details aren't yet available, but when they are they'll be listed here.

Adventures in Science Summer Camp

Titans: The World’s Largest Dinosaurs
For second through seventh graders
Various dates, click here for schedule
Five-day session is $450
Kids can spend the summer studying these giant dinos with museum educators.
To register, call 212-769-5200.

The World’s Largest Dinosaurs
is on view through January 2, 2012 at the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 77th Street. Tickets are $24 for adults, $18 for children ages 2 to 12, under 2 free.

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