Roaming Through the Dinosaur Exhibits One of the major highlights of the Science Museum of Minnesota. The gallery, with its amazing dinosaur and fossil displays and interactive exhibits, gives visitors the opportunity to experience the museum's world-class collections of prehistoric specimens. The Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery covers 10,000 square feet of exhibit area adjacent to the Science Museum's atrium. Diplodocus: The mounted skeleton of the 82-foot-long Diplodocus lets visitors examine close up one of the largest creatures ever to roam the earth. Stegosaurus: Learn why some scientists think so when they check out the cast skeleton of Stegosaurus, a dinosaur known for distinctive plates along the ridge of its back. Triceratops: One of only four real mounted Triceratops specimens anywhere in the world, is also the largest complete Triceratops specimen on display. Camptosaurus: The Science Museum's Camptosaurus, a unique highlight of the paleontology collection since 1991, is the largest Camptosaurus by far that has ever been discovered. Xiphactinus: The 14-foot-long Xiphactinus is an example of the largest bony fish ever known. It is mounted in two tons of plaster. T.rex Jaws T. rex Jaws Interactive: Tyrannosaurus rex was a formidable predator with massive, powerful jaws capable of taking down large prey. Operate a giant set of T. rex jaws, recreating the T. rex's trademark giant-sized bite. Primeval Swamp: The swamp diorama shows visitors what North Dakota looked like once crocodiles had replaced dinosaurs as the new top predators. Real fossils and interactive exhibits in the swamp address the topics of climate change and evolution. This exhibit is the product of more than twenty years of Science Museum fieldwork and research at Wannagan Creek, North Dakota. Explore North Dakota 60 million years ago When Crocodiles Ruled. Fossil Mammals: See an ancient "saber tooth" cat, a prehistoric camel, and other prehistoric creatures.

Now Showing at the Omnitheater Find out what is currently showing at the Omnitheater Now Showing call (651) 221-9444. Audio System The Omnitheater has two complete audio systems—one that supports IMAX presentations on the dome screen and a second system that supports electronic presentations on the flat screen when the dome is retracted. There are eight speaker banks mounted behind the dome and flat screen. Two additional speakers mounted on the high back wall of the theater give IMAX presentations true 360-degree digital six-channel surround sound. The system can produce 14,500 watts of digital audio power. The audio system was designed and built by Sonics Associates, Inc. The World's Largest Video Projection System The Omnitheater has a 7,000-watt Hughes JVC digital video projector, the largest permanently installed electronic cinema projector in the world. The system projects digital video images on the large flat screen allowing the Omnitheater to host an unlimited variety of video presentations. High Tech Computer Control Systems The Omnitheater uses some of the world's most sophisticated computers to assist in the smooth operation of the amazing theater. The Sonics DTAC (Digital Theater Audio Controller) master computer controls the theater's sound systems, incorporating all the video and multimedia elements. The DTAC system interfaces with the IMAX projector and the Sky-Skan automation system that runs the dome movement and the lighting systems. DTAC weaves all the complex theater operations into one smooth running presentation.

The Expore Store Browse through a wide variety of science-related books, posters, jewelry, decorative pieces, unique gift ideas, and mementos of the Upper Midwest's favorite museum attraction. The museum's Explore Store is located just behind the box office. The Explore Store's hours are: Sunday 11:30 - 5:00 Monday - Wednesday 10:00 - 5:00 Thursday - Saturday 10:00 - 9:30

A Snack or a Meal The Elements Cafe, located on the museum's sixth floor, offers tasty entrees, salads, pizza, and beverages, plus an incredible view of the Mississippi River. At Omni Stop, enjoy a variety of espresso drinks, bakery goods, frozen yogurt, and glazed nuts as you prepare for a show in the Omnitheater. And in Chomp–just outside the Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery–snack on hot dogs, deli sandwiches, soft pretzels, and ice cream beneath the watchful eye of the mighty Diplodocus.

Special Events at the Science Museum of Minnesota A unique combination of location, service, and ambiance make the Science Museum Minnesota's preferred partner for unforgettable events and meetings. This unparalleled facility offers your group: A premier location on the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul Spectacular views of the river and the historic St. Paul skyline Flexible private event spaces sized to accommodate intimate meetings or 1200-person events Superb in-house catering service with an outstanding choice of menus from Lancer Catering

Science Buzz visit the Science Buzz website Science Buzz is a website and exhibit that you can find on every floor of the museum. Just look for the color red: red carpet, big red arrows, and our "Science Buzz" neon signs. Dig deeper into these on-line previews or visit the website.

Collector's Corner Here's How... Find something interesting Find a natural object like a rock, fossil, skull, or pine cone. Notice the surroundings where you found it. Be sure to write down where and when you found it. Think about what it is, how it grew, what it ate, or why it's important. Do some research and learn more about your specimen. Collectors' Corner buckets Bring it to the Collectors' Corner in the museum's Collections Gallery Tell the Collectors' Corner staff about your specimen. Earn points for what you know. Trade Now or Trade Later Open a Collectors' Corner account. We'll keep track of your points. Trade with the points you earn immediately or save your points for a future trade.

Mississippi River Gallery Tour an authentic Mississippi River towboat. Take a visual journey through a lush diorama. Hear the sounds of northern Minnesota in summer. Fly down the Mississippi from its start at Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. Compare your weight to that of a Mississippi River fish with our fish scale. Digital River Basin: Look at local floodwater and rainfall totals along the Mississippi River and locate the different types of flora and fauna in the area. See live Mississippi River fish in our aquarium.

Create your own weather system, make wiggly waves with the Lariat Chain, and wonder at the intricacies of sound in the Sound Lab. Visit the Wave Tank and watch the surf crash against a wall or roll slowly up onto shore. Operate a steam engine and learn how the High Bridge Power Plant generates our electricity. And don't leave without seeing a tornado form from a roiling cloud at your feet!

Science on a Sphere Science on a SphereThis is the closest you can get to looking at Earth from space without suiting up and blasting off! When you visit Science on a Sphere on the museum's 3rd floor you will: Admire the unique and beautiful features of Earth as you compare our home planet to some of its close neighbors in the solar system. Gain a deeper appreciation of Earth's most plentiful and precious resource—water—and how it shapes the world on which we live. Observe the interaction between clouds, continents and oceans as you watch weather move around the globe in near real-time images. Science on a Sphere is an amazing projection technology that makes complex scientific data and concepts visible and understandable and offers the most accurate representation available of the whole Earth. Science on a Sphere is the creation of the Global Systems Division, Earth System Research Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Human Body Gallery Explore what makes us human and what keeps us alive, including topics like physiology, genetics and cell biology, along with cultural and ethical issues.