A Roaring Good Time at the Dinosaur Lookout Member Preview!

On Friday, October 18, excitement filled the air as members gathered at The Lawrence Hall of Science for the highly anticipated opening of the Dinosaur Lookout exhibit. Families poured into the outdoor space to meet the prehistoric giants up close and bask in a stunning panorama of the San Francisco Bay and skyline at dusk. From ferocious predators to gentler herbivores, these life-sized dinosaurs—hailing from the Late Cretaceous and Early Jurassic periods—created an unforgettable adventure for visitors of all ages.

“I’m so excited that we have the dinosaurs here at The Lawrence!” said Claudia Bustos, Executive Director of Public Engagement. “For so many people of many ages, dinosaurs are an entry point to the world of curiosity and science. We’re excited that these larger-than-life creatures will inspire people to be curious about things of all sizes and of course, our prehistoric friends.”

Parents and children explored together, coming face-to-face with towering creatures like the Tyrannosaurus rex, with its enormous jaws and serrated seven-inch teeth, and the Cryolophosaurus, the first carnivorous dinosaur discovered in Antarctica, complete with its distinctive head crest. Just a few steps away, guests admired the Carnotaurus, a horned predator from the Cretaceous period, and learned about the Pachycephalosaurus, a herbivore with a 10-inch-thick skull cap scientists believe could have been used for headbutting or temperature regulation.

Activity tables lined the exhibit, offering hands-on opportunities for young explorers to dive deeper into the prehistoric world. At one station, kids examined fossils laid out in small boxes and searched through water bottles filled with sand, rocks, and tiny relics. 

“Visitors can touch and observe fossils here. In these bottles they can search for mini fossils,” explained Erin, a staff facilitator. “The idea is for guests to ask open-ended questions and explore their curiosity about how different types of fossils are formed, like body fossils or trace fossils. It’s all about observation and discovery!”

As kids uncovered treasures like dinosaur teeth and armor plates from creatures such as the Ankylosaurus, their curiosity grew, sparking conversations about how paleontologists piece together clues from the past.

At another station, children used dinosaur silhouettes as the base for their creations as they explored the various ways dinosaurs defended themselves from predators. They had a variety of cutouts—like spikes for the Stegosaurus—that could be layered onto the paper dinosaurs. Long strips of paper were also available for tails or other imaginative additions. Kids eagerly mixed and matched these elements, snipping and gluing to bring their dinosaurs to life. 

Meanwhile, a man in a dinosaur costume dashed through the exhibit, sending kids into fits of laughter as they chased him through the crowd. A little boy wearing a dinosaur hat grinned from ear to ear as his dad filmed a T. rex roaring in the background. 

“The roaring ones are so cool!” one child shouted as they darted between exhibits, their excitement contagious. Others crowded around the Dilophosaurus, marveling at its twin crests and powerful jaws, while pretending to be fierce dinosaurs themselves.

For many attendees, the exhibit’s opening had been long-awaited. “We’ve been waiting for this day since we saw the newsletter,” one guest shared. “We just renewed our year membership!” 

Another visitor reflected on the museum’s past exhibits with nostalgia: “This reminds me of the dinosaur that used to be in the lobby 25 or 30 years ago!”

Dinosaur Lookout is now open to all visitors! Dino enthusiasts of all ages are invited to join the prehistoric fun at The Lawrence. Whether you search for fossils, design your own dinosaur, or practice your best T. rex roar, you’ll have a dino blast!