Well, well, well…here we are for another Nature Friday where we’re joining the gang from the Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on their link to see other slices of nature have been shared this week. This week we’re going to be featuring photos from last weekend’s visit to the Denver Museum of Natural History and Science. Wilson here. This is the money shot from the steps of the museum looking west toward City Park that shows the Denver downtown skyline with the mountains in the background (sadly it was somewhat cloudy toward downtown that day with smoke and ozone so the mountains are not very prominent). On a clear day, it’s an exquisite view and many a couple has had their engagement or wedding photos taken featuring the Boat House and skyline in the background.
Wilson: Greetings mates. Like the movie Night at the Museum, we’re headed to the Natural History Museum and Science…only we’re doing it in the daytime and there won’t be any cameo appearances by Ben Stiller. Our family took the great-granddaughter out to see the latest exhibit of dinosaurs at Denver’s Museum of Nature History and Science to coincide with her captivation with dinosaurs lately.
The Mum: It had been years since I’d been to the museum and there have been many changes to the museum. The entrance still has the T-Rex greeting visitors but that’s where the similarities end. This exhibit featured the largest dinosaurs ever found.
Wilson: Not small are they? What did Halia think?
The Mum: Our little paleontologist had a blast. The museum has loads of interactive stops throughout the exhibit where kids can interact. She really enjoyed herself and was enraptured by the videos sprinkled throughout.
Wilson: Whoa, that is quite a big one! When dinosaurs ruled the earth I’m guessing things were a lot different on earth.
The Mum: You could say that. The museum invited visitors to explore the mind-bending biology and remarkable anatomy of sauropods — the largest land animals to ever live. From eating and breathing to reproducing, their size affects nearly everything that those animals do. With creative and thoroughly enthralling displays, including a towering, life-sized model of a 60-foot-long Mamenchisaurus, we were able to see beyond the bones and into their bodies to discover the mechanics as to how these titans lived on Earth millions of years ago.
Wilson: I had heard there are some impressive bones in the museum’s collection that actually were found in Colorado.
The Mum: You’re absolutely right, House Pony. We even were fortunate to watch the diorama creators meticulously working on making some models from the original bones.
Wilson: Watching those folks preserving the past was mesmerizing. We watched them for a long while until they took a break.
The Mum: The kiddo had a great time in the Discovery Zone. Whenever there’s water around, she’s in the middle of it! And yes, she was pretty soaked but worth it to watch her having such fun.
Wilson: {shudder} Never, ever take me to the Discovery Zone, Mum. Okay?
The Mum: Deal, House Pony. I know how you feel about water and I’d never even consider taking you there. It was a bit of a mad house with all the kids running around, let alone with all the splashing.
Wilson: Whew. Yeah, that would not be my idea of fun. But it looks like she had a great time. Did she try to cook any eggs?
The Mum: Nope, in fact, we had to take her back to see them, she totally overlooked them. There was so much to take in and the exhibit had a lot of visitors that provided lots of distractions. But it was still fun. Next time we’ll share some of the (many) images I took in the main museum that featured lots of taxidermy creations in dioramas showcasing lots of interesting animals.
Wilson: Sounds like a plan, Mum. We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and are able to explore their surroundings of the natural world. Cheerio!
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Your GG-daughter is a cutie pie. Mamenchisaurus? That’s easy for you to say.
Thanks. She’s quite the personality. Yeah, that is quite the mouthful. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Have a good weekend.
How inspirational for everyone.
That place appeals to young and old alike! Have a lovely weekend.
What a fabulous excursion! Show me a kid who doesn’t have a dinosaur phase. Halia is adorable and how wonderful that she enjoyed herself. Must have been noisy, though 😉
Thanks. Yes, it can be somewhat noisy but the acoustics are fairly excellent in the large halls. Mostly you’re just dodging little people who get a bit over-stimulated and clog up narrow hallways. 😉 I love it when she’s so into things in her world. I do think a heck of a lot of girls go through a “I want to be a paleontologist when I grow up” phase. Marine biology is another one that most girls seem to focus on. With her Hawaiian roots, I expect that one to feature prominently soon. Have a splendid weekend!
What fun! It is good to see Sue still rules! We have pictures, somewhere, of each of us about to be stomped. The last time we were at the museum, they had dioramas of various pre-Dino timeframes as well as dinosaurs. The display of a sauropods is amazing. What a lot of wonderful new displays!
If you haven’t been, here are some other fun spots for dinosaur crazy kids in the Denver metro area.
The world famous (what a claim) Dinosaur Ridge main visitors’ center focuses on kids. They can “dig up fossils”. If you want to spend a little more money, in a small group, a geologists will walk you through what you are seeing. The ridge itself has so many different footprints. You can also ride a bus with a tour guide.
Martin G. Lockley Discovery Center is new since our time in Golden, but it looks fun. It is at the entrance 1 to Red Rocks.
While not as big as the Denver museum, the Morrison Natural History Museum, has a lot of dinosaur bones and hands on exhibits. They had a puppet head of a T-Rex that was amazing. I don’t know if they still have it.
You can get bundled tickets for Dinosaur Ridge and the Morrison Natural History Museum.
Thanks for those other opportunities to check out dinosaurs in the area, Julia. We’ll definitely keep them in mind. She was filled with wonder all day long and had a great time visiting the animals on the second floor which I’ll feature next week. Gotta love seeing kids experience such cool outings and seeing them learn about the natural world. Hope you and Bruce have a great weekend.
Thank you! It turns out I was wrong about the name of the T-Rex at the entrance of the museum.
Not to worry. I think it’s nicknamed Teen Rex but not a problem. 😉
wow what a place… we love it… and even a good place fr dogs… this bones would be like christmas and easter together
Haha…some of those bones might even be too big for you guys! But it really is a fantastic place to visit with something for everyone. Have a sensational weekend!
Looks like it was a fabulous excursion! It is great fun watching young kids discovering new things – and so much is new stuff for them.
It truly is watching them discover new exciting things. She had a terrific time. We hope you have a fantastic weekend.
Most kids seem to have a fascination with dinosaurs at some point. Mom has never been interested but her brother was crazy about them and they went to that museum on a trip to AZ one year. It is an amazing place. Happy Friday!
Thanks. Her interests typically are triggered from many of her books. I love watching their eyes-that look of wonder is so rewarding! We hope you all have a pawsome weekend!
How wonderful little Halia got to go to that museum! My junior high school used to take us the 1 1/2 hour drive to the Pittsburgh, PA Museum of Natural History, and I LOVED it every time! On our trip to San Diego a few weeks ago we all went to the one there in Balboa Park. I don’t think Adam was very interested, but I soaked it up. I think it’s absolutely fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing, and I’ll be looking for your next “installment!”
Thanks. That museum in Balboa Park is fabulous! I visited it when I lived in SD decades ago. I’m such a huge fan of educational entertainment and Halia is right at the age where her brain is a complete sponge. It’s so much fun watching her take it all in. We hope you all have a terrific weekend!
Taking little kids to museums is so much fun, they see the world with fresh eyes. 🤩
It really is a balm for adults to see things through the eyes of a small child. Really puts life in perspective. Have a terrific weekend.
Wilson, I have to tell you that I would have loved being along right behind all of you as you went through that wonderful place! I have always been interested in such things. This is a depiction for the rest of us that surely will make others wish they were there just as it did me I enjoyed seeing the great grand daughter too! 🙂 I am a grandmother of two boys.
Thanks so much, Carole. Spending time in a place like this is so enjoyable for grandmas everywhere. We hope you have a wonderful weekend!