Now Open!

Discover the most complete exhibit of Eastern U.S. dinosaurs in the world right here in downtown Birmingham. In the entire United States, Alabama is the best place east of the Mississippi River to find the remains of dinosaurs.  Alabama Dinosaurs, a brand new exhibit at McWane Science Center, will display actual dinosaur fossils discovered here in Alabama. Alabama Dinosaurs will feature rare finds from the Alabama tyrannosaur to the dangerous dromaeosars or “raptors”.  

Click Here To View The Flickr Photo Gallery of the Alabama Dinosaurs Exhibit. ....................................................................................................
MEET THESE DINOSAURS IN THE EXHIBIT...

Appalachiosaurus • Pronounced: APA-lay-CHEE-o-SAW-rus • Meaning: “Appalachian Lizard” • Common Name: Alabama Tyrannosaur • Age: Late Cretaceous Period • Size: 22 feet long • Diet: Carnivore A relative of T-rex, Appalachiosaurus was the dominant predator in Alabama during the Late Cretaceous Period. The bones on display in this exhibit come from the most complete Appalachiosaurus ever discovered and represent the most complete tyrannosaur ever found in the eastern half of the United States. Unlike T-rex, the arms of Appalachiosaurus were large, perhaps representing the largest arms of any tyrannosaur ever discovered in North America. Once on display, this skeleton will represent the first mounted Appalachiosaurus on exhibit in the world.

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Nodosaur • Pronounced: NO-do-SAWR • Common Name: Armored dinosaur • Age: Late Cretaceous Period • Size: 13 feet long • Diet: Herbivore Nodosaurs were large armored dinosaur that walked on all four legs. Nodosaurs were slow dinosaurs that likely spent large amounts of time grazing on low-lying vegetation. The backs of these dinosaurs were covered with a series of scutes (also known as armored plating) and bony spikes that helped protect them from any attacking dinosaurs.

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Dromaeosaur • Pronounced: DRO-me-O-sawr • Common Name: Raptor • Age: Late Cretaceous Period • Size: Nine feet long • Diet: Carnivore Dromaeosaurs were lightly-built, quick moving, dinosaurs that likely hunted in packs. Dromaeosaur jaws were lined with backward-curving teeth, allowing it to better grasp its prey. This dinosaur also had powerful claws on it fingers and a large curved claw on the second toe on each of its feet.  It is likely Dromaeosaurs would have balanced on one foot allowing the other foot to swing forward, allowing the foot claw to cut open its prey.

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Pteranodon • Pronounced: TE-ran-O-don • Meaning: “Winged and Toothless” • Common Name: Flying Reptile • Age: Late Cretaceous Period • Size: 25 foot wingspan • Diet: Fishes Pteranodon was not a dinosaur, instead it is considered a flying reptile. Like modern birds, Pteranodon had light hollow bones, a trait ideal for flight. Pteranodon could have likely soared for extremely long distances, skimming the top of the ocean hunting for fishes.

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MORE TO SEE & DO IN THE EXHIBIT... Dino Racer: In this exhibit, thrill seekers sit on a stationary bike facing away from a projection screen displaying a life-sized Appalachiosaurus. Equipped with a rearview mirror and a view screen, you have a five-second head start before the dinosaur is unleashed to chase you. You must bike 100 yards before being eaten by the hungry Appalachiosaurus. Dino Safari: You, peering into a pair of binoculars, are transported back in time to the Cretaceous Period in Alabama. Equipped with a zoom lens and a camera, you can take pictures of the many Alabama dinosaurs you discover. Dino Myths Kiosk: Calling all dino-it-alls. In this exhibit, you can test your dinosaur knowledge in a quiz show computer game. Dino Weights: It’ll be tons of fun to get all your friends and family together, pile onto a large scale and compare your combined weights to those of different Alabama Dinosaurs.