| There is certainly room for debate when building the | | | | tour from their website and add to your iPod before |
| definitive list of US museums for dinosaur lovers. | | | | you go. |
| Diversity of species, number of specimens, | | | | The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh |
| presentation, architecture, accessibility and interactivity | | | | PA |
| are all factors in the museum experience. Fortunately, | | | | The Carnegie Museum of Natural History boasts the |
| the United States offers a rich diversity of dinosaur | | | | third largest display of real mounted dinosaurs trailing |
| museums sure to please everyone from the most | | | | only the AMNH in New York and the NMNH in |
| casual dinosaur fan to the hardened paleontologist. | | | | Washington D.C. With 19 dinosaurs on display in two |
| These are the top five picks, plus some honorable | | | | halls, the "Dinosaurs in the Time" exhibit boasts a |
| mentions. | | | | number of holotypes (considered the premier and |
| American Museum of Natural History, New York | | | | defining fossil for a given specimen) including |
| There is no greater city in the world than New York | | | | Diplodocus canegii, Apatosaurs louisae and |
| and any trip to the Big Apple should include a stop at | | | | Camtosaurus aphanoecetes. Others specimens of |
| its wonderful American Museum of Natural History | | | | note are the Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and |
| (AMNH). This museum has gained added notoriety due | | | | Camptosaurus. |
| to the popular Ben Stiller comedy, "Night At The | | | | Pros: Recent renovations in 2007 and 2008 offer a |
| Museum." However, when it comes to dinosaur | | | | more modern scientific view of dinosaurs |
| exhibits, the AMNH is definitely not kid's stuff. | | | | Cons: High price tag, $15 for adults |
| Boasting wonderful diversity of specimens (over 100 | | | | Tips: 50% discount for military, museum open until 8 |
| on display in their Dinosaur Halls), the exhibits are | | | | p.m. on Thursday |
| structured to demonstrate the evolutionary | | | | The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia PA |
| connections between species, offering a different | | | | A thorough collection of fossils and replicas from the |
| perspective than the more traditional "chornological | | | | Mesozoic era with about 30 species represented, half |
| order" structure most often seen in similar exhibits. | | | | being full skeletal mounts. Popular attractions include |
| Highlights on your trip to the AMNH are the Hall of | | | | the Big Dig, a hands-on exhibit for would be |
| Saurischian Dinosaurs where the T-Rex and | | | | paleontologists and the Fossil Prep Labs where visitors |
| Apotasaurus can be found and the Hall of Ornithischian | | | | can view live demonstrations of fossil preparation. A |
| Dinosaurs, home to the Stegosaurus and Triceratops. | | | | great stop for those in the Philly area. Kids will |
| On the IMAX screen, the museum is exhibiting | | | | especially enjoy the many interactive displays. |
| "Dinosaurs Alive!" The 40-minute film follows AMNH | | | | Pros: A great diversion for kids who might be burned |
| paleontologists on an expedition to the Gobi Desert of | | | | out on the history of our nation |
| Mongolia and to Ghost Ranch, New Mexico as they | | | | Cons: Lacks the depth and variety of the premier |
| search for dinosaur remains. Fans of this museum | | | | dinosaur spots |
| note good lighting in the dinosaur halls for snapping | | | | Tips: Look into purchasing a Philadelphia City Pass for |
| quality photos. Detractors balk at the suggested | | | | one admission to this museum along with trolley use, |
| donation of $15 for adults. | | | | the aquarium, the Franklin and the Zoo |
| Pros: Rich specimen diversity, good lighting for pictures, | | | | Looking for something off the beaten path? These |
| the iconic T-Rex, Apotasaurus and Triceratops | | | | dinosaur exhibits and dig spots offer a more |
| Cons: Can get very crowded, long lines for tickets | | | | up-close-and-personal experience for those who want |
| Tips: For big families, the $15 price tag can be a strain | | | | to get their hands dirty. |
| but it's only a "suggested donation." Let the ticket agent | | | | Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, Alberta, |
| know you'd like to make a smaller donation that fits | | | | Canada |
| your budget. | | | | Rivals any of the premier dinosaur museums in the US. |
| Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, | | | | This museum located in the Alberta badlands is off on |
| Washington D.C. | | | | its own, but worth the trek for those with a keen |
| No visit to our nation's capitol is complete without a trip | | | | appetite for all things Mesozoic. With guided tours of |
| to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural | | | | the badlands, camps for kids and a rich collection of |
| History (NMNH). The nation's oldest dinosaur museum, | | | | fossils on display, including 40 mounted dinosaur |
| the diversity of exhibits is on par with the AMNH, | | | | skeletons, this museum is a dinosaur fanatic must. |
| though visitors are sometimes disappointed with the | | | | Wyoming Dinosaur Museum, Thermopolis Wyoming |
| poor lighting and sometimes confusing or missing labels | | | | With 60 mostly late Jurrasic active dig sites in a |
| and displays. Still there is much to enjoy here, with both | | | | 500-acre region, this is a dinosaur lover's paradise. The |
| Saurishian and Ornithischian dinosaurs being well | | | | museum offers 200 displays with 20 mounted |
| represented. The vicious Allosaurus is quite popular | | | | skeletons in a 12,000 sq ft facility. |
| along with the Triceratops, which was returned to | | | | Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology, Abiquiu New |
| exhibit after a recent restoration. This free admission | | | | Mexico |
| museum is just one of the Smithsonian's many | | | | Home to the Triassic dinosaur, Coelophysis, the New |
| fascinating collections and a "must" for anyone | | | | Mexico State Fossil. Located in Ghost Ranch, this site |
| exploring Washington D.C. | | | | is known in paleontologist cirles for its rich quarries of |
| Pros: FREE! Other Smithsonian Museums are right | | | | the Triassic era, 220 million years ago. |
| nearby | | | | Denver Museum of of Nature and Science, Denver |
| Cons: Poor lighting, expensive cafeteria, crowded | | | | Colorado |
| Tips: Parking is a hassle so use the Metro, cafeteria | | | | Regarded for their exhibits on Stegosaurus, Allosaurs |
| prices are high so pack a lunch and save some cash | | | | and Edmontosaurus - a great family museum. |
| Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago | | | | Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, Woodland |
| Visiting the Windy City? Promising an awe-inspiring | | | | Park Colorado |
| journey through 4 billion years of evolution, The Field | | | | A great collection from the Late Cretaceous period. |
| Museum of Natural History in Chicago offers a wide | | | | Come back soon... |
| variety of dinosaur fossils in its Genius Dinosaur Hall | | | | These museums are currently closed for renovation, |
| along with animated videos, hands-on interactives that | | | | but will be highlights for any paleontology enthusiast |
| tell the story of when dinosaurs ruled the Earth with | | | | when they re-open. |
| their "Evolving Planet" exhibit. | | | | The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, |
| The McDonald's Fossil Preparation Lab offers a unique | | | | Los Angeles California |
| glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work of the | | | | Re-opening in 2011, this museum's Dinosaurs Hall will |
| paleontologist. Star of the show is "Sue" the T-Rex, a | | | | return better than ever with a world-class collection of |
| nearly complete specimen discovered in South Dakota | | | | Mesozoic fossils. |
| in the 1990s. Also of note is the rare Cryolophosaurus, | | | | Dinosaur Monument National Park, Dinosaur Colorado |
| the only dinosaur ever discovered in Antarctica. | | | | While still open, the main visitor center and access to |
| Pros: Sue the T-Rex, up-to-date "Evolving Planet" | | | | the "fossil wall" are not available right now. Structural |
| exhibit, lots more to see beyond dinosaurs | | | | damage to the main visitor center has forced a |
| Cons: Noisy, steep ticket price ($15 for adults), closes | | | | closure. A temporary center is available with limited |
| at 5 p.m. every day | | | | displays and visitors can hike a short distance to see |
| Tips: Save the rental fee by downloading the audio | | | | fossils, but the main attraction is unavailable at this time. |