PA: Dinosaur exhibit at the Franklin brings lesser known, greater-sized giants to Philly

From The Mercury: Dinosaur exhibit at the Franklin brings lesser known, greater-sized giants to Philly
Gigantic. Monumental. Humungous.

# It would take a thesaurus of adjectives to describe the size – let alone the impact – of the creatures that make up the spectacular “Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs” exhibit at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute. (through April 15)
# So if you head over there with a small child, prepare him or her in advance about what to expect. On our own recent adult visit, a small child just ahead of us bolted at the first sight of these creatures and couldn’t be coaxed back in.
# But for those who know a bit more about the scale of human-sized-to-gigantic creature, this is one of the most effective and impressive displays of the dinosaurs evacuated from remote regions in Argentina and the Gobi Desert of Inner Mongolia.
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“What makes this exhibition different,” explains Don Lessem, the leading collector of dinosaur artifacts in the world and our Delaware Valley neighbor in Media, “is that these specimens are largely unknown to audiences here.”
# “This show also is the first exhibit based closely on some revolutionary new international research that examines how one group of animals – long-necked plant-eating dinosaurs – got to grow 10 times larger than any other animals on earth, before or since.”

# As Lessem, who has excavated and recreated dinosaurs from Argentina and Mongolia, earning the name “Dino Don,” further explains:

# “The exhibit was an outgrowth of my following this research on gigantic growth in Europe for five years. I’ve slowly accumulated a very large collection of dinosaur skeletons and robots which tell this story, against the backdrop of dinosaur evolution through time. Since it will only fit in the largest of science museums, I was very fortunate that the Franklin Institute was interested in being the debut venue.”

# Lessem, who was an advisor to the producers of “Jurassic Park,” has written more than 50 books for children about dinosaurs, and is Dinosaur Editor of Highlights Magazine.

# Highlights of the exhibit are meeting Mapusaurus, anointed the new king of the meat-eating dinosaurs and an impressive dude for sure; Mamenchisaurus, the pea-headed animal and the one with the longest neck; and Giganotosaurus from Patagonia, who lives up to his name because of his size – fully 10 percent larger than the infamous T-Rex.

# “Dinosaur fossil bones and skeletons, casts of fossils and full-size robotic dinosaurs highlight the power and strength of these giants of giants, and the remarkable ways they evolved,” notes Dennis Wint, president of the Franklin Institute, who once went on a dinosaur dig himself in Alberta, Canada.

# Ironically, much of dinosaur exploration and discovery has occurred over the last two decades, according to Lessem, who began his own career as a journalist and used a fellowship he won while at the Boston Globe to research dinosaur lore. He’s never looked back.

# It’s truly a remarkable experience to roam among these remarkable specimens, including the five-foot high backbone of the 100-ton Argentinosaurus. There’s also a chance for some interactive experience. The Dinosaur Cart allows for some handling of some casts of dinosaur skulls and also skulls and casts of reptiles and birds.
# The Franklin has arranged for the premiere of “Flying Monsters on its Tuttleman Theater’s IMAX screen. The film takes audiences to a prehistoric world in the most convincing, spectacular way – a perfect companion piece to the exhibition in the same building.

# “What I hope visitors will take away from this exhibition is a sense of awe,” said Lessem. “And it’s hard to imagine their not doing so.”

# He continued, “I don’t much care if they remember the information, but I’d love it if they kept or grew their interest in learning about life’s history as they can always discover the facts and theories for themselves.”

# And then, with a wry sense of humor, Lessem added, “What I DON’T want them to take away are the dinosaurs. But they’re are pretty heavy and ornery, so I’m not nervous.”
# This final advice: as with all exhibitions that deserve some time, visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes.

# Kids who are ready for the size and scale of these creatures may not be tall themselves, but they may be inclined to want to stay long enough to go through the exhibit several times.

# Plan to spend at least 90 minutes – or, more likely, two hours.
# It’s definitely worth it to study creatures who reportedly dominated the Earth for 163 million years.

# Individual daytime tickets for Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs, which include general admission to the Franklin Institute, are $25 for adults. And $18.50 for children. Tickets ate timed and dated from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. (last entry is at 3;30 p.m. and through 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with last entry at 7 p.m. Evening ticket prices: $10 for adult; $6 for children, but does not include museum admission.

# Advance purchase is strongly recommended.