Dinosaur Walk Museum facts for kids

The Dinosaur Walk Museum was a cool place where you could see giant, life-size dinosaur models. It also showed off amazing copies of real dinosaur fossils. There were museums in Riverhead, New York and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

One museum in Branson, Missouri moved and is now called the Branson Dinosaur Museum.

A Look Back at the Dinosaur Walk Museum

The very first Dinosaur Walk Museum opened its doors on June 24, 2004. It was located in Riverhead, New York, on Long Island. An artist named Fred Hoppe designed and created all the exhibits. This museum had one of the world's largest collections of prehistoric animals. It closed in July 2008.

The museum in Pigeon Forge also closed, reportedly in 2011.

Amazing Dinosaur Exhibits

The museum featured 47 different kinds of prehistoric animals. All the exhibits were life-size models. They were carefully made based on real fossil records.

The museum was about 17,000-square-foot (1,600 m²) big and had two levels. Hand-painted murals covered the walls. It also had two movie theaters showing educational dinosaur films. Kids could enjoy hands-on activities, and there was a gift shop too.

Here are some of the awesome dinosaurs you could find at the Dinosaur Walk Museum:

Tyrannosaurus Rex: The King of Dinosaurs

T-Rex: The Tyrannosaurus rex lived about 66 million years ago. This was during the late Cretaceous Period. It grew to be over 43 feet (13 m) long and more than 15 feet (4.6 m) tall. A T-Rex could weigh up to 7.5 tons!

Platecarpus: The Ancient Sea Lizard

Platecarpus: The Platecarpus was an extinct aquatic lizard. It was part of the Mosasaur family. This creature could grow up to 14 feet (4.3 m) long. It mainly ate fish, squid, and ammonites.

Parasaurolophus: The Crested Dinosaur

Parasaurolophus: The Parasaurolophus also lived during the Cretaceous Period. This was between 76 and 66 million years ago. It grew to be 33 feet (10 m) long and 16 feet (4.9 m) high. It weighed almost 7,700 pounds. The Parasaurolophus was an herbivore, meaning it ate plants. Its large crest might have been used for communication.

Daspletosaurus: A T-Rex Relative

Daspletosaurus: The Daspletosaurus lived during the Upper Cretaceous Period. Its fossils have been found in North America. Scientists think it might have been an ancestor of the T-Rex. It grew over 28 feet (8.5 m) long and weighed almost four tons. This dinosaur was mainly a carnivore, eating meat.

Deinonychus: The Sickle-Clawed Hunter

Deinonychus: The Deinonychus lived during the early Cretaceous Period. It grew to be almost 10 feet (3.0 m) long and weighed up to 175 pounds. Like many raptors, Deinonychus had a special sickle-shaped claw. It used this claw mainly for attacking its prey.

Coelophysis: New York's Official Dinosaur

Coelophysis: This dinosaur lived during the late Triassic Period. That was almost 210 million years ago. It grew to be between 2–3 meters long and less than a meter tall at its hips. The Coelophysis had a unique "S" shape in its neck vertebrae. It is the official dinosaur of New York State.

Velociraptor: The Swift Hunter

Velociraptor: The Velociraptor lived during the late Cretaceous Period. This was between 83 and 70 million years ago. This carnivore grew up to 5.9 feet (1.8 m) long and could weigh up to 45 pounds. Velociraptors had long, curved claws on their feet. They used these claws to attack their prey. Their bone structure was similar to many modern birds.

Troodon: The Smart, Bird-like Dinosaur

Troodon: The Troodon was a small, bird-like dinosaur. It grew up to 6.5 feet (2.0 m) long and 3 feet (0.91 m) tall. It only weighed up to 130 pounds. It lived during the late Cretaceous Period, 75–66 million years ago. At first, scientists thought it ate meat. But new evidence suggests it might have been omnivorous (eating both plants and meat) or even an herbivore.

Plesiosaurs: Ancient Water Reptiles

Plesiosaurs: The Plesiosaurs were carnivorous aquatic reptiles. They first appeared at the beginning of the Jurassic Period. They thrived throughout the Cretaceous Period. They lived at the same time as dinosaurs but were not dinosaurs themselves. They are considered a type of reptile.

Oviraptor: The "Egg Protector"

Oviraptor: The Oviraptor lived during the late Cretaceous Period. This was between 80 and 70 million years ago. Its name means "Egg Thief." Early discoveries showed an Oviraptor near Protoceratops eggs. Scientists thought it was trying to steal them. However, later, an Oviraptor was found huddled over a nest of its own eggs. This showed it was protecting its eggs, not stealing them! So, now they are seen as "egg protectors."