Press Release
'Hatching the Past' dinosaur egg exhibit opens Sept. 16 at Fla. Museum
Opening day activities include science lecture, family fun
For Immediate Release Sept. 6, 2006
Contact:
Paul Ramey, APR
Assistant Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Florida Museum of Natural History
(352) 846-2000, ext. 218, pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Stacy Acquista
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Beginning Sept. 16, the Florida Museum of Natural History will display dinosaur eggs, nests and embryos in its newest traveling exhibit – "Hatching the Past: The Great Dinosaur Egg Hunt." This remarkable hands-on exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to see a collection of 100 authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from around the world.
A captivating experience for all ages, "Hatching the Past" invites visitors to touch real dinosaur bones and reconstructed nests – one more than eight feet in diameter – dig for eggs, experience hands-on exploration stations and view video presentations featuring well-known dinosaur experts. Each science-rich section is enhanced with life-like models of embryos and hatchlings, colorful illustrations of dinosaur family life and stunning photographs of some of the world's most renowned dinosaur hunters and their discoveries.
"When most of us think of dinosaurs, we think of the fully grown adults," said Darcie MacMahon, Florida Museum of Natural History assistant director for exhibits. "This exhibit showcases the amazing science of dinosaur eggs – how and where scientists have discovered eggs and nests, and the remarkable stories these fossilized eggs reveal about dinosaur life. It's an Alice-in-Wonderland experience to adjust our view from the perspective of these towering giants and peer into the hidden interior of a dinosaur egg."
From 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on opening day, visitors may make a dinosaur egg, don a triceratops hat and learn about paleontology during a day of family fun. At 1 p.m., join Dale Russell for "The Precarious Life of a Dinosaurian Egg" as he discusses how paleobiologists must now visualize the biologic mystery of animals resembling egg-laying elephants inhabiting the Earth for nearly 150 million years.
The fossils on display in "Hatching the Past include an authentic bowling ball-sized egg of a sauropod from Argentina – laid by a long-necked, plant-eating titanosaur that lived 75 million years ago; a large cluster of eggs laid by a duck-billed, plant-eating dinosaur and the longest dinosaur eggs ever discovered – almost 18 inches long – laid by a new giant species of oviraptor, a carnivorous, ostrich-like dinosaur.
"Hatching the Past" was developed by Charlie and Florence Magovern of The Stone Company, Boulder, Colo., in association with the Harvard Museum of Natural History. The Magoverns gained national recognition when their work was featured as the cover story in the May 1996 issue of National Geographic. A central feature of the exhibit features Charlie's extraordinary find – a giant oviraptor hatchling he named "Baby Louie," which was discovered in a block of elongated eggs from China.
The Florida Museum will display the exhibit through Jan. 7, 2007. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children ages 3-12 and free to Florida Museum Associate and Curators Society members.
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The Florida Museum of Natural History is Florida's state natural history museum, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $8.50 for adults ($7.50 Fla. residents) and $4.50 for children ages 3-12. Prices subject to change. For more information, including directions and parking, call (352) 846-2000, or visit, www.flmnh.ufl.edu.