Dinosaurs Are Back! New Fossil Hall Opens Saturday at Natural History Museum

Pre-renovation shot of T. Rex in the National Museum of Natural History (John Gibbons/Smithsonian photo)

If you have a T. rex-obsessed child (I do), this is dinosaur-sized news: The National Museum of Natural History is reopening its fossil hall, the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time, this Saturday, June 8. DCist has a great story with beautiful photos of the new space. Below, I’ll tell you what you need to know if you decide to brave opening day.

As a D.C. suburban kid, I went on field trips to Mall attractions every year. Now that I have a 2-year-old, I have been looking forward to revisiting all of those places with him. The dinosaur exhibit won’t be the same–it will be much better. The new fossil hall is bright, 31,000 square feet and features a new T. Rex, positioned to chew on a Triceratops.

Of course, the museum is expecting crowds on Saturday. If you need to be there, here’s what you should know:

  • There is an celebratory ribbon-cutting at 10:15 a.m., and the first 300 visitors at the Madison Drive entrance will be admitted.
  • Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. (later than usual).
  • Costumes are encouraged, but rules apply (scroll to the bottom here).
  • Many events are planned around the exhibit.

More more info, see the museum’s weekend tips.

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