October 07, 2021

Imagine a time when dinosaurs walked the Earth. These creatures roamed all seven continents by land, sea, and air for millions of years. Whether feathered or scaly, small or towering, these creatures could be as large as semi-trucks and weigh as much as 23 elephants. It’s almost impossible to imagine such enormous creatures, but thanks to the Discovery Center, you won’t have to imagine dinosaurs—you can see them up close, face-to-face.

The Discovery Center is hosting the traveling exhibit Dinosaur Discovery from October 9, 2021–January 9, 2022, sponsored by Don Wessel Honda. Guests can come face-to-face with a family of Triceratops, an Albertosaurus on the hunt, and other animatronic dinosaurs while learning the science behind these prehistoric creatures. Guests can also find fossils in the dig pit and take a photo inside the deadly jaws of a T. rex or while riding a Triceratops. While dinosaurs are always a big hit with guests of all ages, the Discovery Center is hoping to do more than just entertain.

“Right now, only 35% and 37% of students are at grade level in math and science in Missouri,” Rob Blevins, Discovery Center Executive Director, said. “Many might not treat this like an emergency because it’s happening in slow motion, but this is most certainly an emergency that requires immediate action. If we as Missourians are going to do our part to keep the United States of America as a global superpower, we must act now. These dinosaurs are going to inspire 1-year-olds and 99-year-olds alike to want to learn about the world around them, to engage in the sciences, and to explore fields that require math. What we do or don’t do today will determine our tomorrow. These dinosaurs are a big, bold, and beautiful step in creating a better future for our kids—and, to be honest, they are also just really cool.”

All Dinosaur Discovery experiences are free with admission. Guests visiting on Sundays in the month of October will be supplied with face masks for their “Science for All Days.” More information on the initiative can be found at: https://www.discoverycenter.org/scienceforall/

Discovery Center of Springfield inspires curiosity and a life-long love of learning through memorable and engaging hands-on experiences in STEM education by delivering a world-class experience through cutting-edge science.