Submitted information
For The Arkadelphian

Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs announced plans to present a new fully interactive exhibition called Expedition Dinosaur: Rise of the Mammals starting on May 28 and running through August 20 of this year.

“This new exhibit celebrates and explores the fascinating world of Dinosaurs at their prime and the catastrophic event that may have caused their extinction, while giving rise to our own species,” said Diane LaFollette, museum executive director. “Think of it as a cross between the excitement of Jurassic Park and the adventure of Indiana Jones. We know that visitors of all ages are going to love it.”  

The exhibit features large scale animatronic dinosaurs and interactive cases and displays. The exhibit company, Stage Nine Exhibits, engaged renowned paleontologist, Thomas Williamson to consult and inform the exhibit. 

Expedition Dinosaur:  Rise of the Mammals will feature several special exhibits: 

• Dinosaur fossil hunters’ Jeep truck and tools 

• Interactive Dinosaur draw and animation station 

• 10 Animatronic Dinosaurs and Mammals 

• Full size T-Rex skull replica 

• Geology interactive with augmented reality sand play 

• Large Dinosaur mouth photo op 

• Day of the Event Comet Puzzle 

• Video fossil scanning station with interactive display. 

• A Dinosaur fossil dig. 

The exhibit is included with the Museum general admission. Adults are $12, children ages 3-12:  $10, and seniors aged 65 and older, teachers and military: $11. The museum hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m.  

For more information, visit www.midamericamuseum.org or call (501) 767-3461. The Museum follows the CDC guidelines for masks and social distancing. The museum is located at 500 Mid America Blvd. in Hot Springs. 

Additional features of the exhibit

Full-motion robotic dinosaurs with realistic movement and sound effects

Albertasaurus
Young Amargasaurus
Carnotaurus
Dilophosaurus
Iguanodon
Pachycephalosaurus (2)
Velociraptor (x2)
Stegasaurus
Triceratops

PANGEA PUZZLE
Study of tectonic plate movement and the shape of continents before modern history.

5 FINGER ROBOT EGG INCUBATOR
Robotic arm used to rotate and turn simulated dinosaur eggs.

DINOSAUR EGG SCANNER
Insert a dinosaur egg into the scanner to learn about this fascinating piece of history.

INTERACTIVE FOSSIL VIEWING BOXES
Presentation of simulated dinosaur fossils and digging tools accompanied by interactive sound and visual demonstrations.

DINOSAUR TRACING AND RUBBING ART STATIONS
Use embossed steel plates to rub and trace your own very own dinosaur. 

INTERACTIVE 3D TOPOGRAPHY SANDBOX
Simulated topographic lines are projection-mapped into an actual sandbox. Control the contours yourself.

DINO HEAD PHOTO OP
Find yourself in the jaws of an unfriendly dinosaur.

TOOLS FROM THE FIELD
Explore all the instruments needed to find and recover dinosaur fossils.

DINO OPERATION GAME
See if you can excavate the T-Rex fossil before you make him roar!

FIELD CAMPAIGN TENT
Explore the inside of what a true dino explorer’s field tent would have looked like. And hear from a present-day paleontologist.

MIX N MATCH DINOSAUR ART SPINNER
Create your own dinosaur by mixing and matching various pieces of other dinosaurs.

DINOSAUR DIG
Use your budding archeology skills to extract dinosaur bones from the earth. Be careful not to disturb the areas around the bones. 

DINOSAUR THROUGH THE AGES
Place your favorite dinosaurs in the correct age that they thrived.

MECHANICAL DINOSAUR MOVEMENT STUDIES
Push-button demonstrations of how various species of dinosaurs moved and functioned in their daily lives. 

DINOSAUR GIZZARD
Interactive demonstration of how the dinosaur digestive tract is believed to have functioned. 

About Stage Nine Exhibits 
Stage Nine Exhibits is a full-service developer of creative, unusual exhibits for permanent or temporary display. Stage Nine Exhibits owns, operates, and tours eight internationally acclaimed exhibitions including: Toytopia, Hall of Heroes, POPnology, The Animation Academy, Sweet: A Tasty Journey, Rock U: The Institute of Rock “N” Roll and The Lost World of Dragons.