T.Rex Encounter Inspires Fascination, Fear in Family-Friendly New Exhibit

There was a brief moment when I thought my tombstone would read Devoured By a T-Rex. News accounts would include an interview with the massive Cretaceous carnivore, who would quip, “She tasted like a gamey triceratops. I only had enough ranch dressing for her nose.”

Our family came face-to-face with the ferocious fangs of RoboSUE at T.Rex Encounter, a new temporary exhibit at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science. We entered the exhibit expecting to see the usual creaky animatronic dinosaurs. They are about as scary and lifelike as the penny horse at a grocery store. Our pre-conceived notions were quickly gobbled up when we encountered our first animatronic raptor. The robotics of the dinosaurs in T.Rex Encounter are so advanced they seem to anticipate your next move. The eyes follow you. Their gaping mouths screech at you. Claws itch to grab you. Their heads bob and lunge and twist with fury. The movements of the dinosaurs are so seamlessly smooth that you may, like me, forget for a brief flash they aren’t real.

Because of the startling cutting-edge technology, small or sensitive kids may find elements of the exhibit too intense. Older kids who got to preview the exhibit, like Tevan, 7, thought nothing was scary. He especially loved the furry raptors. The robotic dinosaurs were the hit of the night for most of the visitors. Lauren, 10, loved the t-rex and added that the exhibit is best for older kids. Dino-loving younger kids may find it cool, though, especially when they can appreciate that real dinos didn’t drive trains. Miles and Elijah, ages 6 and 4, loved everything about the exhibit. Claire, 5, decided the museum’s Gems and Minerals exhibit was more her style. And Chloe, a sweet little 3-year-old, liked the gift shop best. One of the great things about the T.Rex Encounter exhibit is that it’s free with regular museum admission. Parents can relax knowing they can easily exit without feeling like they just wasted money. Some kids don’t care for the thought of their nosies or toesies being munched upon. Nobody wants to be a nugget.

T.Rex Encounter isn’t just about scarily-real dinosaurs. There are many hands-on elements in the 13,000 square foot exhibit. If your little ones are worried about the dinosaurs, steer them to the other activities. There’s something to engage everyone. Peer through the eyes of a carnivorous t-rex or a plant-eating triceratops. Sniff what the world smelled like 67 million years ago. Hint: There were no apple-pie scented candles. Stand in front of a green screen to pose with a t-rex for a commemorative photo. Introduce them to Sherlock Bones. Manipulate t-rex jaws or gape at Sue. Who is Sue?

She is a cast of a t-rex skeleton found in 1990 in South Dakota. Sue is massive, stretching 42 feet from nose to the tip of her tail. We saw where she had broken ribs, infections in her leg and jaw, and arthritis in her tail. We also learned the story of how she was found and about the ensuing court battle over her bones. It seems that while the robotic version of Sue, RoboSUE, wants a piece of our bones, just as many people wanted a piece of her.

T.Rex Encounter is where cutting-edge technology mashes with prehistoric biology. It’s at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science between now and January 8, 2012. It’s free with regular museum admission and it’s open daily from 9 to 5, except December 25th. There is also an IMAX Dinosaur Double Feature, with two 3D movies: “Dinosaurs Alive!” and “Waking the T. Rex: The Story of SUE.”

Also, for fun, check out the T.Rex Encounter Flickr stream and start practicing your about-to-be-dinner pose.

Author: gretchen