Understanding Life On Our Planet
The Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin presents an exciting insight into the workings of nature. Follow the development of life on our planet on a tour. And discover the different forms of life that evolution has brought forth: marvel at prehistoric animals, bird specimens and the famous polar bear Knut. Or take a deep look back into the history of the origin of the universe. And there are many more exciting exhibits to discover: Take time for a detailed excursion to the Natural History Museum.
You Can Visit The Following Exhibitions At The Museum Of Natural History In Berlin:
- Permanent exhibition: World of dinosaurs
- Permanent exhibition: System Earth
- Permanent exhibition: Birds & native animals
- Permanent exhibition: Highlights of the Preparation Art & Wet Collection
- Special exhibition: digitize! – live science
Buy your online-ticket conveniently and safely and discover the highlights of the Museum of Natural History:
The Organization Of The Dinosaur Halls
The Museums dinosaur exhibits are organized to reflect evolutionary relationships, and a walk through the exhibition halls is like a walk along the trunk, branches, and twigs of the evolutionary tree for
A thick black line on the floor, which starts in this hall and continues through the Hall of Vertebrate Origins, the the , the , and the , denotes the trunk of this tree.
Explore the Museum’s world-famous dinosaur fossil collection on this .
Branching points along the main path that represent the evolution of new anatomical features, such as the hole in the center of the hip socket. At each branching point, visitors can walk off the main path to explore alcoves containing a group of closely related dinosaurs.
were an extremely diverse group of plant-eating sauropsids . Many had complex and often bizarre adaptations for defense, display, feeding, and locomotion. The group includes armored dinosaurs, such as Stegosaurus and Anklyosaurus duckbills and their relatives and the horned and dome-headed dinosaurs, such as Triceratops and Pachycephalosaurus.
include the giant plant-eating sauropods and the carnivorous theropods. This hall features the imposing mounts of Tyrannosaurus rex and Apatosaurus. The saurischian hand is the key to the group’s remarkable history. Saurischians are characterized by grasping hands, in which the thumb is offset from the other fingers.
D. Finnin/© AMNH
Read Also: Lego Jurassic Park T Rex Breakout
Are The Dinosaur Fossils On Display Real
About 75% of the more than 230 objects on display are original fossils from one of the finest paleontological collections in the world, and most of the exhibitions dinosaur skeletons are real, not replicas. Several of these skeletonsincluding those of the iconic dinosaurs Apatosaurus louisae, Diplodocus carnegii, and Tyrannosaurus rexare holotypes, the original specimens upon which their respective species are based.
In the many decades since the discovery of Diplodocus, scientific interpretations of dinosaurs and their lifestyles have changed dramatically. This exhibition uses up-to-date paleontological evidencemuch of which has been provided by the museums own scientiststo accurately reconstruct the appearance and behavior of these colossal creatures.
For instance, we now know that Apatosaurus and Diplodocus did not spend their lives wallowing in swamps and that predatory dinosaurs such as T. rex walked with their tails held off the ground and their backs horizontal. The three-horned Triceratops may have used its famous headgear more for display than for fighting, whereas some theropod dinosaurs would have closely resembled their modern descendantsmodern birds.
Study Up On Dinos Before Your Visit
A little pre-trip research will make your visit to Carnegie Museum of Natural History even more enjoyable, and theres plenty to learn about dinosaurs on the museums website and social channels. Watch the first episode of Science Chats to hear their curator of amphibians and reptiles chat about dinosaurs with their head dinosaur researcher. Visit the museums website to get some background on the exhibition Dinosaurs in Their Timeand read the latest dinosaur-related blog posts. Or head over to their TikTok channel to find dinosaur facts sprinkled in between snail jokes, cute animal videos, and facts about other museum areas of expertise.
Read Also: Where Can I Watch Jurassic Park
Teeth Footprints And Feathers
Most theropod dinosaurs, such as Tyrannosaurus, had teeth that were pointed, slightly curved backwards, and serrated. The sharp points pierced the meat, and the serrations helped slice it by catching and tearing muscle fibers. Meat eaters didnt chop or grind their food they swallowed chunks whole.
Plant-eating dinosaurs had teeth of various shapes designed for their particular diets. Triceratops, for example, had hundreds of teeth that formed a solid wall with sharp ridges. The teeth were used to chop off vegetation. Other plant eaters, such as Anatotitan, had wide flat teeth that they used to grind up tough vegetation. The long-necked dinosaurs, such as Diplodocus, had long pencil-like teeth that they used to rake the leaves off branches. These dinosaurs swallowed the leaves whole. They also ingested small stones, called gastroliths, most likely to grind up the food in their stomachs, much the same way modern birds, such as parakeets and chickens, do today.
From an individual footprint, scientists can estimate the height of the dinosaur that made it. A rough estimate of leg length is obtained by multiplying the print length by four.
Modern birds, or avian dinosaurs, have skeletal features that are almost identical to some non-avian dinosaurs.
Feathers evolved before flight and may have functioned as insulation to keep dinosaurs warm, or for display as a way to attract mates.
Mammals Put Brawn Before Brains
Prehistoric mammals bulked up, rather than develop bigger brains, to boost their survival chances once dinosaurs had become extinct, research suggests.
For the first 10 million years after dinosaurs died out, mammals prioritised boosting their body size to adapt to radical shifts in the make-up of Earth’s animal kingdom, researchers say. Read more
Recommended Reading: Michael Crichton Jurassic Park Books In Order
See World Premiere Exhibition Dinosaur Armor
Dinosaur Armor proves theres no offense like a good defense, and thats been true for millions of years. Travel back to prehistoric times to learn how the drive to survive prompted the evolution of body armor from clubbed tails to thick shells to spikes more than a foot in length. Dinosaur Armor is at Carnegie Museum of Natural History until July 5, 2021.
Get a preview of the exhibition and learn the challenges of installing a new exhibition during the COVID-19 pandemic on .
Meet The Dinos Of Deep Time
As intricate and structurally beautiful as most museum dinosaur mounts might be, many are typically staged in relatively static poses or in displays that reinforce the old stereotype that dinosaurs were snarling monsters of distant epochs. In the Smithsonian’s new hall, while there is certainly Mesozoic dramalike T. rex readying to tear the head off Triceratopsa little time spent among the titans in their new displays will reveal other facets of their day-to-day lives that help place them in the broader context of lifes ever-changing story.
Life is messy, Starrs says, and the exhibit designers thought hard about how dinosaurs left a footprint on their environmentsboth literally and figuratively. A Torosaurus, similar to Triceratops, wanders through a Cretaceous forest in a new mural, breaking twigs as it goes. A dome-headed dinosaur called Stegoceras scratches its nose. A brooding Allosaurus curls its tail around its nest. A hungry Camarasaurus rears up to munch on Jurassic branches. On a personal level, this was closest to my heart, says Smithsonian dinosaur curator Matthew Carrano, trying to make these animals seem like they were once real animals and doing something real animals do.
Starrs notes that research into how visitors interact with exhibits and social science was part of the planning as well, in an effort to make the exhibits as interesting and accessible to as many people as possible.
Recommended Reading: Jurassic Park Filmed In Hawaii
Five Reasons To Visit The Museum Of Natural History
- System Earth – The Exhibition about our planet
- The fossil of the ancient bird, Archaeopteryx
- The world’s largest dinosaur skeleton Brachiosaurus brancai
- The biodiversity wall on which 3,000 animal species are preserved
- Wet collection of objects from all animal groups behind glass, one of the most modern research collections in the world.
See The Original Fossil Of The Worlds Most Famous Dinosaur: T Rex
Even though you may know T. rex best from Jurassic Park, this fearsome carnivore actually lived during the late Cretaceous Period, about 66 to 68 million years ago. It could weigh up to seven tons and grow to 46 feet long. Carnegie Museum of Natural History is home to the holotype T. rex – the first fossil of the species recognized by science.
#LovePGH
Read Also: Kohl’s Jurassic Park Shirt
Toronto Museums And Historical Sites
Plenty to see in Toronto. What’s your favourite? Below is a list of Toronto Museums
Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM, located at the corner of Bloor St and Queen’s Park Ave, is Canada’s largest museum. Its exhibits and galleries explore the visual arts, archaeology, the life sciences and natural history. Admission price ranges from to .The main building is open from 10am – 6pm Mon to Sat till 8pm Tues 11am-6pm on Sun. The museum is closed Dec. 25 & Jan 1. Tel: 416 586-8000 Address: 100 Queen’s Park Toronto ON M5S 2C6
Exhibits of horse-drawn vehicles, railway cars, pioneer homes are just some of the attractions which cover 25 acres. Tel: 1 905 294-4576 Fax: 1 905 294-4590 Directions: W side of Hwy 48, 2 km N of Hwy 7 Address: 9350 Hwy 48 Markham ON L3P 3J3
Hockey Hall of Fame
The hall of fame for the National Hockey League is located in BCE Place downtown Toronto. See over 100 years of hockey history. The Hockey hall of fame has lots of fun interactive games to play and is the resting place for the leagues major trophies and awards, including the Stanley Cup! Tel: 416-360-7735 , Address: 30 Yonge St. At Front St. W. Toronto, Ontario M5E 1X8 Canada
Fort York
Founded in 1793 by Lt.-Governor John Graves Simcoe to construct and guard his new capital, the fort is the birthplace of modern Toronto.Admission: Adults – ., Seniors & Students – .25, Children – .Tel: 416-392-6907, Address: 100 Garrison Road, Toronto, ON. M5V 3K9.
Spadina Colborne Lodge Mackenzie House Montgomery’s Inn
You Would Have Saved 304 On The Ticket With The Berlin Welcome Card
Your benefits with the Berlin Welcome Card:
- Free Public Transport in Berlin
- Choose from 200 Attractions – Savings of up to 50%
- Free Map & City Guidebook
Discover the world of dinosaurs with the whole family: the new permanent exhibition “Dinosaurs! Age of the Giant Lizards” not only shows you Tristan, the original skeleton of the world-famous Tyrannosaurus Rex, which, at 4 metres high and 12 metres long, thrilled more than a million visitors in Berlin years ago.
You will also discover a nest with dinosaur eggs and the skull of a young T-Rex. Learn why our modern birds are descended from predatory dinosaurs. And stand fascinated in front of the more than 13-metre-high Brachiosaurus Brancai – the world’s largest skeleton of a dinosaur.
Recommended Reading: Does Universal Studios Have Jurassic Park
Practical Tips For Visiting The Museum Of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History is located in the centre of Berlin. Reach it easily by taking the underground line U6 or tramlines M5, M8, M10 or M12. Both the underground and tram stops are named after the museum – “Naturkundemuseum”. You can also arrive via Hauptbahnhofor Nordbahnhof, served by lines S5 and S7. If travelling by car, use the car park directly by Hauptbahnhof. Entrance to the Museum of Natural History is free of charge if you have a Museum Card. This additionally gives you free entry to numerous Berlin museums across three consecutive days.
With theBerlin WelcomeCard, you get a discount. The museum is dedicated to supporting children’s and youth groups, whilst guided tours about various subject areas are available in both English and German. The museum also boasts the Carl Zeiss Microscopy Centre, where students can learn how a microscope works and try it out for themselves at the purpose-built visitors’ centre. Museum educators also lead popular after-hours guided tours where you can go on an adventure through the building by torchlight.
Compete In A Seasonal Scavenger Hunt
Let friendly competition guide your next visit to Carnegie Museum of Natural History with a seasonal scavenger hunt! For August 2020, take a Pennsylvania Staycation to learn museum history and PA natural history. In September 2020, go back-to-school at any age to find specimens with backpacks, birds that get new clothes, and more on your very own field trip. And this October, get ready to find all things creepy and weird for Halloween.
You can always find the current scavenger hunt at carnegiemnh.org/hunt.
Hint: At least one answer will always be dinosaur themed.
Recommended Reading: Where Can I See Dinosaur Footprints
The Future Of Science Museums
On September 25, the museum hosted a virtual summit on the future of natural history institutions as part of the museum’s strategic planning process. Administrators from prominent institutions around the country made comments about their facilitys response to the pandemic and how that will influence programming from now on. Read some significant quotes in the information release linked here and watch the entire presentation.
Dinosaur Fossils And Fossilization
- Paleontologists use fossil evidence preserved in ancient rock to discover how long-extinct animals lived and behaved.
- In most cases, a fossilized bone is actually a rock made out of minerals, with no trace of the original bone material.
- The discovery of dinosaur eggs and nests provided evidence for the behavior of some dinosaurs.
- By comparing the skulls of Protoceratops of different ages , paleontologists can draw conclusions about how some dinosaurs grew.
- To discover how organisms lived in the past, paleontologists look for clues preserved in ancient rocksthe fossilized bones, teeth, eggs, footprints, teeth marks, leaves, and even dung of ancient organisms.
- Fossilized jaws, teeth, and dung provide important clues about what non-avian dinosaurs ate.
- Series of fossilized footprints, called trackways, reveal some intriguing evidence about dinosaur behavior and locomotion.
- Until recently it was believed that feathers were unique to birds. Recent discoveries, however, have unearthed evidence for feathered non-avian dinosaurs.
Paleontologists looking for dinosaur fossils begin their work by surveying areas to find sedimentary rock from the Mesozoic era. Finding the right spot takes experience and a keen eye.
Recommended Reading: Dinosaur Museum Los Angeles Ca
Discoveries And Research On The Last Cretaceous Dinosaurs From The Front Range Of Colorado
Excavation of the most complete Torosaurus fossil ever found
Thornton, Colorado, 2017
The discovery of a partial horned dinosaur in late August 2017 at a construction site for a new public facility in Thornton, Colorado led to the excavation of the most complete Torosaurus specimen ever found, nicknamed Tiny. Torosaurus, a rare cousin of Triceratops, is known for its larger, thinner frill with open fenestrae . In addition to a complete, disarticulated skull, approximately one quarter of the skeleton was recovered, including ribs, limb bones, and part of the pelvis.
Other Interesting Highlights In The Area
For those with an interest in science, there is another great museum just around the corner: the Medical History Museum, which will reopen in 2023, is located on the grounds of the Berlin University Hospital. Just cross Invalidenstraße – from here you are only a few steps away. Gallery 36 is also just minutes away from the Museum of Natural History and houses works by national and international photographers. A few hundred metres to the east is Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin’s premier museum for contemporary art. Located in a former train station, this collection impresses with its outstanding modern and contemporary art pieces, and world-class special exhibitions.
Recommended Reading: Jurassic World Exhibit Coupon Code
Miriam And Ira D Wallach Orientation Center
The introduces visitors to key concepts presented in the Museums fourth-floor fossil halls, which display 600 fossil specimensincluding more than 250 mammal fossil specimens and approximately 100 dinosaur fossil specimens. Eighty-five percent of specimens are actual fossils, as opposed to casts or reproductions. It is also home to the life-sized cast of a 122-foot-long sauropod dinosaur Patagotitan mayorum discovered in 2014.
Get To Know Dippy The Dinosaur
Dippy is a fern-munching herbivore and Pittsburgh icon. Dippys fossil is the holotype specimen of Diplodocus carnegii, named for museum founder Andrew Carnegie. The real Dippy fossil awaits you in the museums Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition. There are casts of Dippy all over the world including Paris, Berlin, and Buenos Aires. And he was in Star Wars.
When you visit, dont forget to stop by the Dippy statue to check out his mask. He wears it in solidarity with his human companions to remind us all to #MaskUpPGH and stay safe.
Read Also: Mens Dinosaur Button Down Shirt
The Dinosaurs Of Londons Natural History Museum
Founded in 1881 as an offshoot of the British Museum, the Natural History Museum in London is one of the worlds best-known and most-visited museums. For millions of visitors from the UK and abroad each year, NHM provides their firstsometimes onlyopportunity to see a full-sized dinosaur skeleton in person. That makes the collection of dinosaurs on display uniquely important: each one is an ambassador to paleontological science and the deep history of the Earth.
For your reference and mine, what follows is a brief introduction to NHMs dinosaurs. Please note that I have not been to NHM and this information is based on references available online.