Desert Museum (Mexico) facts for kids
The Desert Museum (or Museo del Desierto) is a special place in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. It teaches people about the desert and how important it is for our planet. The famous architect Francisco López Guerra designed the museum. It first opened its doors on November 25, 1999.
The museum has many amazing things to see. You can find a huge collection of fossils and different kinds of plants. It also shows animals that live naturally in the Mexican desert.
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Museum History
The Desert Museum officially opened on November 25, 1999. The president at that time, Ernesto Zedillo, was there for the opening. Leaders from the Amigos del Desierto de Coahuila foundation also helped.
The main idea behind the museum was to help people learn about nature. It wanted to show how much life there is in the desert. It also explains how different species have changed over millions of years. This is done in a fun and interactive way. The idea for the museum started in the 1990s. This was when many important discoveries were made in the region. These discoveries were about geology (the study of Earth's rocks), anthropology (the study of humans), palaeontology (the study of fossils), and biology (the study of living things).
Explore the Pavilions
The museum is divided into four main areas, called pavilions. Each pavilion has a different and exciting theme to explore.
The Desert's Past
This pavilion takes you back in time. It shows how deserts first formed. Over many years, wind and water have shaped the land. This has made it easier to find fossils in the Mexican deserts. These fossils help us learn about ancient life forms.
You can also see the rich minerals found here. Coal is a very important mineral that comes from this region. The museum also features amazing dinosaurs that once lived in the area. These include the Isauria, Sabinasaurio, and the giant Quetzalcoatlus. There is also a huge Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. It is 17 meters long and five meters tall! You can also enjoy interactive displays about the newest fossil discoveries in the region.
People and the Desert
This pavilion explores how humans have lived in the desert for thousands of years. It mainly shows the ways of life and special traditions of the nomadic people. These groups moved from place to place. You can see ancient petroglyphs (carvings on rocks) and cave paintings. These are very special and unique to this desert area.
Evolution and Life's Variety
This pavilion opened on August 4, 2005. It shows how life has changed over the last 12,000 years. During this time, the desert region was home to many different animals. You can see traces of huge mammoths, fierce Saber-toothed cats, giant Short-faced bears, and large Gomphotheres. This section teaches you about the amazing variety of life that has existed here.
The Life Lab
This pavilion is very interactive and exciting. It takes you back 70 million years! You can see many different animals in a special "biodome." This makes your visit a unique experience. The pavilion also has a Herpetology laboratory. Here, experts work with the reptiles that live at the museum. They study and care for these amazing creatures.
