The biggest, strangest and newest dinosaurs discovered in South America, Africa and Madagascar visit the United States for the first time ever
CINCINNATI – Forget about the dinosaurs that you know – prepare for a whole new breed of beast! Opening June 13, Cincinnati Museum Center welcomes some of the largest and most unusual dinosaurs to have ever roamed the planet in the U.S. premiere of Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana.
Based on groundbreaking research from scientists around the world, this exhibition reveals bizarre, unusual looking dinosaurs virtually unknown to North Americans because they evolved in isolation in South America, Africa and Madagascar. Ultimate Dinosaurs features three augmented reality (AR) experiences, used in creative ways to bring these specimens to life and illustrate the story of how a dynamic Earth with drifting continents affected the evolution of dinosaurs, from a Southern perspective.
“We’re very excited to bring these spectacular dinosaur species to Cincinnati on their first visit to the United States in this new cutting-edge exhibition,” said Douglass W. McDonald, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “This exhibition gives you the extraordinary opportunity to experience dinosaurs you’ve never seen before, in ways you’ve never imagined.”
Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana is presented locally with the generous support of associate sponsor Frisch’s Big Boy.
“We’ve supported previous exhibits of dinosaurs in the past, but this new exhibit with augmented reality takes dinosaurs to a higher level,” said Craig Maier, president and CEO of Frisch’s Restaurants. “It is not just gadgetry, it provides an educational opportunity not seen anywhere in the United States, and we are happy to help provide a world class experience through our sponsorship.”
Highlights of the Exhibition
Surrounded by life-like environmental murals, the exhibition features real fossils, skeletons and 16 full-scale skeletal casts, many of which have never been seen before in the U.S. Museum Center guests will experience Giganotosaurus, possibly the largest land predator to have ever lived, as well as the crocodile-faced spinosaur, Suchomimus, the horned meat-eater Carnotaurus, and many more.
Augmented Reality
Come face-to-face with these bizarre creatures through the use of augmented reality (AR), layering virtual experiences over real environments in the exhibition. This is the first time Cincinnati Museum Center is using AR technology in an exhibition setting – bringing these giants to life and encouraging visitors to look at them from a new perspective. Experience a fearsome face-off between carnivores Giganotosaurus and T. rex , enhanced by AR iPad technology, where you can decide for yourself which one is the largest meat-eating dinosaur of all time, while learning about key differences between the northern and southern worlds in the twilight of the Age of Dinosaurs.
Exhibition Background
Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana tells the story of how continental drift affected the evolution of dinosaurs on the dynamic Earth during the Mesozoic, 250 – 65 million years ago. When dinosaurs first appeared 250 million years ago, the continents of the Earth were assembled into the giant supercontinent, Pangaea. As Pangaea divided first into Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south, and later into the many continents of today, dinosaurs were passengers on these moving continents. An amazing diversity of dinosaurs evolved on each of these separate lands. Their imposed geographic isolation helped promote their evolution into an incredible array of bizarre forms that dominated wherever they lived.
Produced and circulated by the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ultimate Dinosaurs offers an unforgettable experience for all ages. Children will love the Dino Adventure Trail where they can follow in the footsteps of the paleontologists who unearthed these strange creatures. Hands-on activities, including touchable bronze cats and interactive education pods, will put everything about Southern Dinosaurs at your fingertips. A wide range of dinosaur-inspired programming will accompany the exhibition.
Tickets go on sale May 1.
For more information on the exhibition, programming and to make your reservations, visit www.cincymuseum.org/dinosaurs