Dinosaur Journey Museum

In Fruita, Colorado, dinosaur bones, teeth, and eggs are being dug from the earth. Thanks to Fruita’s arid climate—and its former life as an inland sea—the region is home to some of the most prolific dig sites in North America. Florissant Fossil Beds—where you can see petrified redwood stumps measuring up to 14 feet across—and Dinosaur National Monument—a public park where 1,500 dino bones protrude from a sheer cliff face—are both within a short drive. But one of the best ways to immerse yourself in our planet’s distant past is to visit Fruita’s playful and beloved local museum: Dinosaur Journey. 

This playground for curious minds provides quirky, hands-on education for visitors of all ages. Kids (and those of us who have a hard time sitting still) will appreciate the interactive exhibits. Think robotic dinosaurs, a terrifyingly realistic earthquake simulation, and opportunities to see paleontologists uncovering the secrets of the past in real time.

More studious types could spend a lifetime perusing the museum’s 15,000-specimen collection—which includes the world’s largest triceratops skull, full-cast skeletons of Velociraptors and Fruitadens (the world’s tiniest known dinosaur), and hundreds of bones dug from the cliffs and hills around Colorado. Some of these specimens are up to 300 million years old. 

And it gets even better. Not only does the museum offer you a chance to see paleontology happening behind glass—it also gives visitors a chance to get in on the action. Plan your trip for one of the museum’s Dinosaur Dig Days—interactive experiences that involve tagging along on a real paleontological dig. You’ll join scientists as they search for fossils, excavate new specimens, and prepare artifacts in the field. Now that’s hands-on. And, who knows—you could even end up being part of Colorado’s next groundbreaking discovery.