For immediate release.

Fernbank Museum Roars with Excitement for New Exhibit

“Ultimate Dinosaurs” is open from Feb. 8 – May 4, 2025.

ATLANTA, GA, JAN. 15, 2025 — “Ultimate Dinosaurs,” a special exhibit that explores the fascinating species that evolved in isolation in South America, Africa and Madagascar, stomps into Fernbank Museum from Feb. 8 - May 4,2025. Guests can experience an impressive blend of skeletal displays and augmented reality as they learn about the changing prehistoric landscape of dinosaurs in a new, modernized way.

Based on groundbreaking research from scientists around the world, “Ultimate Dinosaurs” highlights dinosaurs typically unfamiliar to North Americans and seeks to answer the question: why are the unique and bizarre dinosaurs in the Southern Hemisphere so different from their North American counterparts?

Starting with the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, "Ultimate Dinosaurs" takes visitors through the Mesozoic Era (250-65 million years ago) and shows how continental drift affected the evolution of dinosaurs during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

“We are excited to have ‘Ultimate Dinosaurs’ here at Fernbank and explore the unique ways that dinosaurs have evolved in isolation,” said program manager Maria Moreno. “This exhibit combines rarely seen specimens with interactive stations for patrons of all ages to enjoy. It is also very exciting to have an exhibit highlighting our mascot, the Giganotosaurus, one of the largest land predators to have ever lived.”

Guests can view a variety of full-scale dinosaur displays from the Eoraptor, Malawisaurus, Suchomimus, Rapetosaurus and more, including 14 dinosaur skeletons. One highlight is the Giganotosaurus skeleton, which is also on view in Fernbank’s permanent exhibit “Giants of the Mesozoic.” This exhibit will include several real fossils, some of which will be available for visitors to touch.

Additionally, “Ultimate Dinosaurs” features several hands-on activities, one of which involves exploring the physical characteristics of dinosaurs' stride patterns, crests and frills. Another activity uses augmented reality to transform intricately detailed skeletons into moving, flesh-and-bone creatures.

“Ultimate Dinosaurs” is open from Feb. 8 – May 4, 2025. This exhibit will be included with General Admission at Fernbank Museum and is free with CityPASS. For more information, please visit www.fernbankmuseum.org.

“Ultimate Dinosaurs” is presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota.

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Related Programming

Fernbank will host the family-friendly Discovery Day, “Dino Day,” from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, to celebrate the grand opening of “Ultimate Dinosaurs.” This event is included with general admission. Additionally, the giant screen film, “T. REX" will be showing through May 16, 2025. There will also be a lecture with Anthony (Tony) Martin, Professor of Practice in the Dept. of Environmental Sciences at Emory University entitled, “On Frozen Ground Down Under: Polar Dinosaurs, Insects and other Cretaceous Fossils of Australia” this spring.

Tickets

Exhibits, films and Discovery Days are included with daytime general admission and with CityPASS. General admission tickets include three floors of exhibits in the natural history museum, choice of one giant screen film, and 75-acres of nature explorations in Fernbank Forest and WildWoods. Fernbank After Dark and some other special after-hours events are available at a separate ticket price and may include access to special exhibits. Fernbank is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta, minutes from midtown Atlanta and downtown Decatur.  

General admission tickets vary by date and program, starting at $23.95 for children and $25.95 for adults and include a film in the Giant Screen Theater. Tickets purchased online are discounted. Members receive free general admission. More information is available at FernbankMuseum.org. 

Media Inquiries    

Jena Allison| Communications Manager     

Jena.Allison@FernbankMuseum.org    

404.929.6381     

About Fernbank    

Fernbank is one of the most popular and iconic cultural destinations in Atlanta. Known as Atlanta's Science and Nature Experience, Fernbank invites guests to discover a World of Wow through an expansive natural history museum, 4-story giant screen theater, and 75-acres of nature adventures in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest. One of the oldest not-for-profit conservation organizations in the country, Fernbank was founded in 1939 to preserve Fernbank Forest, the largest urban, old growth, Piedmont forest in the United States. The museum and giant screen theater opened as "a school in the woods for nature studies" on Oct. 5, 1992, and is today known for its giant dinosaurs, hands-on STEAM* programming, immersive experiences, and year-round nature exploration. Visit fernbankmuseum.org for more information and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok.   

*Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.