“Jurassic World” Exhibit Comes to Franklin Institute

Dinosaur lovers of all ages will be captivated by the newest exhibition at the Franklin Institute! “Jurassic World: The Exhibition” opens tomorrow. It debuted in Melbourne, Australia, and its Philadelphia opening will mark its first appearance in America. The Philly version of the exhibition offers even more attractions than the Australian one, so this should be considered a can’t-miss trip for all fans of prehistoric beasts and the Jurassic Park movie franchise.

A lifelike dinosaur is on display at the “Jurassic World” exhibition opening Friday at the Franklin Institute. (AP Photo/Josh Cornfield)

One attraction guests are sure to love is the Dinosaur Petting Zoo. Visitors will have up-close encounters with lifelike dinosaurs created by The Creature Technology Co., best known for constructing the dinos for the “Walking With Dinosaurs” arena series of shows. You’ll be dwarfed by immense Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brachiosaurus, and the feisty Velociraptor. Little ones will adore the “Gentle Giants Petting Zoo,” where guests can interact with a baby Pachyrhinosaurus and its 29-foot-long mother. There will be a small dinosaur to pet as well.

The U.S., as mentioned, got some exhibits that Australia did not. One of these is the raptor training paddock, identical to the one used by Chris Pratt’s character in “Jurassic World.” Included in the exhibit is an interactive raptor. Overall, the American version of the exhibition is almost double the size of its Melbourne incarnation. The Seattle Times quotes Tom Zaller, president of Imagine Exhibitions, as saying that “the U.S. show also adds additional science-related content and interactive elements.”

The exhibition’s organizers worked closely with world-renowned dinosaur researcher Jack Horner, who was Michael Crichton’s inspiration for the character of Alan Grant in the novel “Jurassic Park.” Horner, despite having no college degree and being dyslexic, is considered one of the world’s experts on dinosaurs. Horner was responsible for the discovery of the world’s first dinosaur embryos and for the research that proved dinosaurs nested and cared for their offspring.

“Jurassic World: The Exhibition” opens tomorrow, December 2nd, and will run through April 23rd.