Buffalo Museum of Science debuts 'Antarctic Dinosaurs: The Exhibition' with sold-out first weekend

Touring exhibit brings immersive experience from Field Museum in Chicago to Western New York; two dinosaur specimens awaiting scientific naming will be on display 

The Buffalo Museum of Science opened the doors to “Antarctic Dinosaurs: The Exhibition,” presented by M&T Bank, to a sold-out first weekend. The touring exhibit from the Field Museum in Chicago allows Western New York visitors to touch real fossils from Antarctica, see full-sized dinosaur replicas and learn about scientific expeditions that led to these discoveries. Two new dinosaur specimens awaiting scientific naming will also be on display as part of the experience. Exhibition is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will run until Sept. 4.

“We’re extremely pleased to bring this world-class experience from the Field Museum – one of the world’s leaders in exhibit design – to the Western New York community. We're incredibly grateful for the longtime support from M&T Bank, and a grant from I LOVE NY, which helped us bring this exhibit to Buffalo,” Buffalo Museum of Science President and CEO Marisa Wigglesworth said. “It is an honor to be among a small handful of museums that have had the opportunity to host the exhibition since its 2018 debut at the Field. This exhibition shows real skeletons, lifelike dinosaur sculptures and naturalistic dioramas, so guests can receive an immersive experience that best recreates this incredible period of history.” 

A press release noted, “ ‘Antarctic Dinosaurs: The Exhibition’ showcases a lost world that is informed from scientists’ expedition across the frozen continent. Visitors will be able to see and touch real fossils from Antarctica, along with full-sized replicas showing how the dinosaurs and their habitat would have looked in life. Additionally, artifacts from both historical and modern expeditions are included so that guests can build an understanding of what goes into living and working in the coldest area on earth. Children can also enjoy interactive, hands-on displays within the exhibit to further their learnings.”

Field Museum Curator of Dinosaurs Pete Makovicky said, “It’s an amazing opportunity for people to see and discover fossils from Antarctica and what they tell us about Earth’s history. When we designed the exhibition, we wanted visitors to feel like they’re traveling to Antarctica, give them a historical perspective on scientific expeditions, and then take them back in time – as well as show them some of the newest and coolest discoveries in paleontology.”

Additional support for the exhibition is being provided by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/ New York State’s Division of Tourism, awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

Tickets for the exhibit are on sale now and can be purchased online. Cost for admission is $24 for adults. Admission for children, students and members of the military are $21. Active museum members receive a special discounted admission rate of $6 per person. Advanced purchase is strongly encouraged due to timed entry and limited capacity.

“Antarctic Dinosaurs: The Exhibition” was developed by the Field Museum, Chicago; in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; Discovery Place – Charlotte, North Carolina; and the Natural History Museum of Utah. Generous support was provided by the Kenneth C. Griffin Charitable Fund.

For additional information and COVD-19 safety information, visit ScienceBuff.org.

Rooted in the belief that science creates opportunities and shapes our world, the Buffalo Museum of Science is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to providing relevant science programming to learners of all ages in the Buffalo Niagara Region. Through interactive science studios and exhibits designed for multigenerational learning, the Museum showcases its extensive collection of more than 700,000 specimens and artifacts representing all facets of the natural world with an emphasis on Western New York. With a focus on raising the science literacy in the Buffalo Niagara area and beyond, the museum offers hands-on workshops, camps, panel discussions, guided tours and enhanced learning opportunities for its guests and community. The Buffalo Museum of Science is governed by the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences alongside Tifft Nature Preserve in South Buffalo, a 264-acre urban wetland preserve on reclaimed former industrial land. Learn more at www.sciencebuff.org.