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THE REAL JURASSIC PARK!
CHEER FOR CHILDREN was among the 100 magazines, newspapers, and television stations from around the world invited to the American Museum of Natural History for a preview of the new Halls of Saurischian and Ornithischian Dinosaurs. Museum President Ellen Futler greeted me at the door, and began the day by explaining that Saurischian dinosaurs are identified by grasping hands, like a Tyrannosaurus rex, while Ornithischian dinosaurs are identified by an advanced hip structure, like Stegosaurus. As I explored the exhibits, Ralph Applebaum, their designer, told me that the halls represent a new understanding of dinosaurs. The Apatosaurus, the animal formerly known as Brontosaurus, has been reconstructed with a new skull, and a 20 foot longer tail. The Tyrannosaurus rex is posed in a stalking position, its head just above the visitors. During the afternoon panel discussion, Dr. Mark Norell, Curator of the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs, observed that the rebuilt T-rex looks more like a bird. Dr. Lowell Dingus, the Project Director, stated that, "Birds are living dinosaurs." He explained that modern birds are called dinosaurs because they descend from dinosaurs such as Velociraptor. Dr. Eugene Gaffney, Curator of the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs, said that while we can determine the shape and movement of dinosaurs from fossils, we can only guess at their behavior. Museum Senior Vice President and Provost, Dr. Michael Novocek, summed up by saying, "Dinosaurs are fascinating because they're so big, bizarre, and represent empires of the past." The Museum's fossil displays, which are made of 85% real fossils, and is the world's largest fossil collection, are accompanied by two interactive computer system. The first system, Lifelines, explores the dinosaur evolutionary tree branch by branch. The system groups dinosaurs by shared physical traits, just as in the Halls themselves. The second system. Timelines, teaches visitors about dinosaurs that lived during the Jurassic Period (205 to 135 million years ago) and the Cretaceous Period (135 to 65 million years ago). In fact, I saw everything in the new halls from fossilized eggs, to tracks of dinosaur footprints, to a dinosaur 'mummy' (an Edmontosaurus with a fossilized impression of its skin). There is far more here, so I encourage you to contact the museum for more information: The American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street New York, NY 10024-5192 (212) 769-5800
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The American Museum of Natural History |
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L. (Anthony) Cheong |
