Dinosaurland Fossil Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dinosaurland Fossil Museum |
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| Location | Lyme Regis, Dorset |
| Built | 1750-1755 |
| Architect | John Whitty |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Congregational Church | |
| Designated | 31 January 1974 |
| Reference no. | 1278935 |
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Welcome to Dinosaurland Fossil Museum! It's also known simply as Dinosaurland. This exciting museum is in Lyme Regis, a town on England's famous Jurassic Coast in Dorset. It's a special place where you can explore amazing fossils from millions of years ago.
The museum is inside a really old building. It used to be a church and is now a historic landmark.
Contents
Discover Dinosaurland!
Dinosaurland Fossil Museum first opened its doors in 1989. It's owned and run by Steve Davies. He used to be a chief palaeontologist (a scientist who studies fossils) for a big company called BP.
The museum has a fantastic collection of marine (sea) fossils. These fossils were found right here in Lyme Regis. They are from the Jurassic period, which was a very long time ago!
What You'll See Inside
The main fossil collection is on the ground floor. You'll find local Jurassic fossils there. But that's not all! The museum also has fossils from other places, like dinosaurs from China.
You can also see modern shells and skeletons on display. The museum has a small collection of dinosaur fossils. Look out for a large dinosaur coprolite (that's fossilized dinosaur poop!). There's also a Megalosaurus skeleton and a Chinese dinosaur.
Go Fossil Hunting!
One of the coolest things about Dinosaurland is that they organize guided fossil hunting walks. Imagine finding your own fossil! It's a great way to explore the Jurassic Coast.
After your adventure, you can visit the museum shop. They sell all sorts of fossils and minerals. It's a perfect place to find a souvenir!
The Historic Church Building
Dinosaurland Museum is located on Coombe Street. The building itself is over 250 years old! It's a very important historic building, known as a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its special history and architecture.
This building used to be a congregational church. It was built between 1750 and 1755 by a person named John Whitty.
Mary Anning's Connection
Did you know that Mary Anning (1799–1847) was connected to this church? She was a very famous early fossil hunter from Lyme Regis. Mary Anning was baptized in this church. She also attended church services here later in her life.
The building has two floors and a special kind of roof called a hipped roof. It also has cool architectural details like rusticated quoins. These are big, decorative blocks on the corners of the building. The main doorway has round arches and Doric pilasters (flat columns) on each side.
More Places to Explore
- Lyme Regis Museum
- Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
- The Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester, Dorset
- Dinosaur Isle, Sandown, Isle of Wight
