GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Museum of Natural History visitors can step back in time to the age of dinosaurs in the new “Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies” exhibit, open from Sept. 25 to Jan. 9, 2022.

baby dinosaur statues in enclosures
Guests can get a feel for the past with a “petting zoo” featuring five baby dinosaur species with their full-size parents looking on. Dinosaurs on display are a Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus, Maiasaura, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex. ©Photo courtesy of Silver Plume Exhibitions

“Tiny Titans” uses authentic specimens, lifelike models and realistic artwork to transform the area into a “Jurassic Park” day care and showcase the rarely seen world of dinosaur parenting.

“I think many visitors will have seen dinosaur fossils before they come to this exhibit, but what sets this exhibit apart is the inclusion of adults as well as juvenile or baby dinosaurs,” said Florida Museum exhibit coordinator Julie Waters. “Eggs and young dinosaurs aren’t as common in the fossil record, so seeing so many in one place makes this exhibit quite unique!”

This interactive exhibition features more than 150 eggs as well as real dinosaur bones, reconstructed nests, hands-on exploration stations and animated video presentations. A “petting zoo” displays five species of juvenile dinosaurs, and creative costumes allow visitors to dress up and take pictures with a reconstructed nest.

Stunning photographs and illustrations by renowned paleoartists Luis Rey and Mark Hallett bring this era to life while revealing the diversity and scale of the dinosaurs. Authentic models of embryos and hatchlings expose a rarely seen side to these ancient creatures.

“These fossils show that some dinosaurs were actually quite social and caring,” Waters said. “The word dinosaur means ‘terrible lizard,’ but I think visitors will leave with the understanding that dinosaurs aren’t terrible at all – even the ones with the really big teeth!”

The exhibit has information on a variety of dinosaur groups spanning their nearly 200 million-year history, from Ceratops and sauropods to ornithopods and theropods, as well as their parenting and nesting behavior. Also on display is the full story of “Baby Louie,” the first articulated theropod hatchling ever found, complete with a lifelike representation.

Admission to “Tiny Titans” is $8 for adults; $7 for Florida residents, seniors and non-University of Florida college students; $5.50 for ages 3 to 17; and free to museum members and UF students with a valid Gator 1 Card. Complete admission pricing is available online at www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/visit/plan. The special exhibition will be on display through Jan. 9, 2022.

This exhibit was distributed by Silver Plume Exhibitions and sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville/Alachua County, University of Florida Student Government and the Florida Division of Arts and Culture.

For more information, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/exhibits/tiny-titans or call 352-846-2000.

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Writer: Nikhil Srinivasan, 352-273-2034, nsrinivasan@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Source: Julie Waters, jmwaters@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Media contact: Kaitlin Gardiner, kgardiner@floridamuseum.ufl.edu