For Immediate Release

Stomp Into Summer with the Tyrannosaurs
Fernbank Museum to Highlight World-Famous Dinosaurs on June 11, 2022 

ATLANTA, March 23, 2022 –This summer, Fernbank Museum is digging into paleontology through a spotlight exhibit on the Tyrannosaur family tree, from the small, feathered creatures of the early Jurassic period to the top predators of the Cretaceous. The new exhibit, “Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family”, opens June 11, 2022 and will run through September 5, 2022.

The tyrannosaur family has been capturing audiences’ attention for decades through their portrayal as the fearsome T. rex in modern media. What fans of the aptly named “tyrant lizard king” do not know, however, is that the famously fearsome reptile is just one tyrannosaur in the family line. In fact, early versions of the tyrannosaur weren’t toweringly terrifying at all; scientists believe they were small, feathered and long-armed animals prior to their 100-year evolution to become the top predator that media portrays them to be. Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family will feature a number of different tyrannosaurs, including the small-statured Dilong and the long-armed Guanlong, and will focus on the evolution that took place overtime by allowing audiences to engage with the species through a large range of interactivity.

Guests will have access to over 30 exhibit objects, including life-size skeletons, models and real fossil specimens. There are also several unique, engaging experiences designed to keep the attention of even the youngest of dinosaur enthusiasts. This includes the chance to virtually hatch a dinosaur egg, an augmented reality experience that allows the user to interact with a now-extinct dinosaur, and an art Projection Tunnel, where guests have the chance to witness first-hand what it would look like if dinosaurs were to wreak havoc through Atlanta. Additionally, a notable mention from the upcoming Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family exhibit is the inclusion of a T. rex skeleton, which is set at a life-size scale, so museum goers can get the sense of what it would have been like to walk among the beast in real life.

The real catalyst that sets apart the Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family exhibit, however, is the groundbreaking science that initiated a revision of the tyrannosaur ‘family tree.’ Walk the timeline of the tyrannosaurs’ life and observe real change through a comparison of tyrannosaur traits during specific eras, from small statured animals to towering beasts, and variations in bone placements, tooth shape and limb length. Guests will also garner information regarding where each of the dinosaur fossils were located, from Asia to North America, and how far apart in years each new stage in development stands from one another other. The discovery of these important differences between eras has resulted in a radical change toward our ideas regarding how and why these feared creatures evolved.

“The geologic record is vast and provides fascinating new discoveries that shed light on the lives of some of our favorite prehistoric creatures, including dinosaurs,” adds Fernbank educator and volunteer manager, Miranda Shealy. Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family highlights some of the newest paleontological findings about the many fearsome tyrannosaurs that roamed our planet during the Cretaceous period.”

Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family comes charging into Atlanta the same weekend as the Jurassic: World Dominion premiere, set to hit theaters on June 10. The serendipitous timing of these events sets the stage for an exciting, dinosaur-filled weekend in Atlanta. There’s no better way to welcome in the first few weeks of summer and beat the Georgia heat than to sink your teeth into tyrannosaur history.

Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family is an exhibition developed by the Australian Museum and toured internationally by Flying Fish.

RELATED PROGRAMMING
To kick off the Tyrannosaur take-over, Fernbank is making plans for a Take on the Tyrannosaurs family discovery day, on June 11 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. This event is included with general admission.

There is more dinosaur-fun to be found with Fernbanks’ DINO-mite adventures. Featuring immersive exhibits and unique activities, there is much more to explore for these incredible creatures.
Take the movie-lover in your life for a Giant Screen Theater viewing experience! Don’t miss Dinosaurs of Antarctica as scientists deep-dive into the history of the now-frozen continent that was once home to an array of dinosaur species. Specific showtimes vary by date. One giant screen movie is included with general admission (subject to availability).

TICKETS
Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family is included with general admission at Fernbank and with CityPASS. General admission also includes all indoor exhibits, daily programs and a Giant Screen film as well as outdoor explorations in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest. Online tickets are available at a discount of $22.95-$24.95 and are free for Fernbank members. Fernbank offers hourly timed tickets online at FernbankMuseum.org. Online tickets are recommended, as walk-up pricing is not discounted and availability varies.
This is an exhibition developed by the Australian Museum and toured internationally by Flying Fish.
To learn more, please visit https://fernbankmuseum.org/

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Media Inquiries:
Jena Allison, Communications Coordinator
Jena.Allison@FernbankMuseum.org
404.929.6381
About Fernbank
Fernbank is one of the most popular and iconic cultural destinations in Atlanta. Known as Atlanta's Science and Nature Experience, Fernbank invites guests to discover a World of Wow through an expansive natural history museum, 4-story giant screen theater, and 75 acres of nature adventures in

WildWoods and Fernbank Forest. One of the oldest not-for-profit conservation organizations in the country, Fernbank was founded in 1939 to preserve Fernbank Forest, the largest urban old-growth Piedmont forest in the United States. The museum and giant screen theater opened as "a school in the woods for nature studies" on Oct. 5, 1992, and is today known for its giant dinosaurs, hands-on STEAM* programming, immersive experiences, and year-round nature exploration. Visit fernbankmuseum.org for more information and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. *Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.