Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Top 10 Dinosaur Museums

There are a number of fine dinosaur museums all over the world.


There are many dinosaur museums throughout the world, but the best are determined here by the number of dinosaurs or other paleontological exhibits that can be viewed, the way in which they are displayed and by the overall experience of the visitor. The entire world is taken into account, making this grouping of dinosaur museums as complete as possible.


Prehistoric World, Ontario


This is an outdoor museum in Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada. There are more than 50 dinosaur exhibits spread throughout the grounds.


Prehistoric World


Upper Canada Road


Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada


613-543-2503


c360.ca/morrisburg/pw


The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County


Hundreds of dinosaur parts can be examined here, including a rare dinosaur footprint. Particularly interesting about this museum is the fact that visitors can watch paleontologists at work cleaning and setting the bones for display.


The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County


900 Exposition Blvd.


Los Angeles, CA 90007


213-763-DINO


nhm.org


Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, Connecticut


This museum is on the campus of Yale University and was founded by philanthropist George Peabody. This is one of the oldest dinosaur museums in the world where some of the earliest and most historic finds in paleontology are on display.


Peabody Museum of Natural History


Yale University


P.O. Box 208118


New Haven, CT 06520-8118


peabody.yale.edu


Page Museum, Los Angeles, California


Page Museum holds the fossils taken from the La Brea Tar Pits. Not only are the Tar Pits located directly outside the museum but visitors can watch as new additions are made to the exhibits each day.


Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits


5801 Wilshire Blvd.


Los Angeles, CA 90036


323-934-7243


tarpits.org


American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York


There are almost a million fossil exhibits here, and among them are two large dinosaur halls. Impressively, about 80 percent of the displays are made of genuine bones rather than casts.


American Museum of Natural History


Central Park West at 79th St.


New York, NY 10024


212-769-5606


newyorkjourney.com


Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, Montana


Located in western Montana, the museum is in the midst of modern day hunting grounds for dinosaur remains. Its director, Dr. Jack Horner had been advisor to the Jurassic Park movies and has built an impressive paleontological display here. While there are not a lot of physical specimens at this site, there are many displays giving crucial insight into dinosaur activity.


Museum of the Rockies


600 W. Kagy Blvd.


Bozeman, MT 59717-2730


406-994-2251


museumoftherockies.org


Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


This is the oldest natural history museum in the United States. It is home to the largest dinosaur fossil yet discovered, Gigantosaurus. Along with the newly designed dinosaur hall, visitors will find interactive displays in which to take part and gain firsthand knowledge of paleontology.


Academy of Natural Sciences


1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway


Philadelphia, PA 19103-1101


215-299-1000


ansp.org/museum


Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Thermopolis, Wyoming


This museum is right in the middle of an active dig site. There are over 50 locations visitors can explore where dinosaur bones are being actively unearthed. Inside the nearby indoor museum there are many displays to show what becomes of the specimens once they are taken out of the ground.


Wyoming Dinosaur Center


110 Carter Ranch Road


Thermopolis, WY 82443


307-864-2997


wyodino.org


Smithsonian's National Musem of Natural History , Washington, DC


This is a historic site whose collection of dinosaur specimens is also historic. The fossils on display include many that had been unearthed during the earliest days of dinosaur hunting. The site has also recently been renovated to add to the enjoyment of discovery. Located in the nation's capital, it is within easy reach of all forms of public transportation.


Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History


10th Street & Constitution Ave. NW


Washington, DC 20560


202-633-1000


mnh.si.edu


Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois


The collection highlight is the great skeleton of the Brachiosaurus. This museum strikes a visitor with its sheer vertical height, which seems like a natural setting for such huge monsters of the past. The large selection of dinosaurs seems at home in this setting as if they had been captured and set loose in these great halls.


Field Museum of Natural History


1400 South Lake Shore Drive


Chicago, IL 60605


312-922-9410


fieldmuseum.org







Tags: Natural History, Museum Natural, Museum Natural History, dinosaur museums, Museum Angeles, Page Museum, Academy Natural