WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS BELOW
Greetings from the Cretaceous Period
Visitors to Fernbank Museum of Natural History are in for a colossal welcome from a 24-foot-long mother dinosaur and her two babies. The museum is nearing completion on its new entrance plaza, where the family of bronze dinosaurs will officially start greeting visitors May 30. The dinosaurs are a species of hadrosaur and are part of an outdoor exhibition that includes details about the dinosaurs, their prehistoric environment, and their deduced behaviors, including that they may have cared for their young.
 Fernbanks officials describe the new entrance this way: “The pedestrian-friendly outdoor plaza also surrounds the museum entrance with elements of the natural world by converting part of the original driveway into expanded green space that includes lush plants, trees and flowers. The entrance plaza will provide an open atmosphere for outdoor enjoyment while instantly connecting visitors to nature and the prehistoric world, a journey that continues inside the museum as exhibitions, IMAX films and programs explore archaeology, paleontology, ecology, world cultures, and more.”
The plaza, museum officials state, is “the culmination of a major initiative to add more opportunities for visitors to engage with nature and further expand exhibition space beyond the walls of the museum. The forthcoming addition of an amphitheatre and a stage will help Fernbank meet the growing demand for outdoor programming, including performances and presentations.”
“Fernbank Museum is the cornerstone of an environmental legacy that began over 100 years ago. The entrance plaza connects visitors with the beauty of the natural world as soon as they arrive,” Fernbank Museum President and CEO Susan Neugent states in a news release. “The scenery of the plaza also provides a natural setting for our new dinosaur family, which will welcome the families of visitors to Fernbank as they embark on a captivating exploration of nature, prehistory and culture.”
Fernbank Museum is the first to reconstruct Lophorhothon atopus using the most current science to bring the fossils to life through a family of three bronze dinosaurs pausing for a drink in a streambed, according to museum officials.
“This plaza is an exciting addition to the museum, both for its beauty and for its ability to expand Fernbank’s exhibitions and learning outdoors,” said Fernbank Vice President of Education Christine Bean. “Fernbank’s exhibition design team did a remarkable job highlighting two of our key areas of focus—the environment and paleontology—which maintains Fernbank’s commitment to the newest research. We can already tell what a hit the plaza will be by the number of visitors who take photographs in front of the fountain.” The community is invited to join in the celebration of the arrival on May 30 when Fernbank Museum will observe the grand opening of the plaza with a Dinosaur Block Party, which will include puppet making, games and more. The event is included with museum admission, which is $15 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, $13 for children ages 3-12, and free for members and children ages 2 and younger.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. For tickets and more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org or call (404) 929-6400.
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