For Immediate Release:

May 17, 2022

 

Contact:

Marie Cheek

Community Relations Coordinator

Culture & Heritage Museums

www.chmuseums.org

803.909.7312    mcheek@chmuseums.org

 

New traveling exhibition, “Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas” opens at Museum of York County on June 11

Explore the evolution of scientific theories and the lore of dinosaurs through a variety of dinosaur-themed exhibits and programs this summer at the Museum of York County

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Revealing a vivid picture of what living, breathing dinosaurs were really like, the exhibition – “Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas,” opens for the summer at the Museum of York County. The traveling exhibit uses a combination of major fossil finds, captivating computer simulations, and provocative models to introduce a dynamic vision of dinosaurs and the scientists who study them.

“Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas” demonstrates how dinosaurs walk, run and move their long necks in fantastic computer simulations. The exhibit displays realistic models and casts while highlighting recent research by scientists from the American Museum of Natural History  and other leading paleontologists around the world. Examine how current thinking about dinosaur biology has changed over the past two decades.

The traveling exhibit at the Museum of York County is accompanied with two ancillary dinosaur-themed exhibits. Wonderful Wednesdays at the museum offer a variety of dinosaur-themed topics and activities every week. A special opening event, Dinosaur Family Day, kicks off the summer adventure on June 11.

Summer Exhibits at Museum of York County:

“Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas” — June 11 through Sept. 11 in the museum auditorium.  This traveling exhibition from the American Museum of Natural History presents scientific sleuthing and the array of investigative tools—from bioengineering computer software to CT scans—used by modern scientists to reinterpret many of the most persistent and puzzling mysteries of dinosaurs: what they looked like, how they behaved, and how they moved.  It also explores the complex and hotly debated theories of why—or even whether—they became extinct. 

“Discovering Carolina Dinosaurs” – June 11 through Sept. 11 in the auditorium hallway gallery. “Phyllis,” the museum’s life-size Coelophysis model, returns. She is featured along with other significant fossils and casts from the Museum of York County’s collections to educate visitors about the dinosaurs that once called the Carolina Piedmont home. 

“Dinosaurs Galore” – May 24 through Nov. 13 in the Nature Nook Gallery. Featuring the art work of students from eight Rock Hill elementary schools, this exhibit is inspired by the dinosaurs that once roamed the Carolinas. 

Special Event:

Dinosaur Family Day” — June 11 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. This family-friendly opening event for “Dinosaur Discoveries” offers learning opportunities with regional scientists and a day full of dinosaur-themed games and activities. Meet living dinosaur relatives and view the Dinosaur Discovery planetarium show. Reservations suggested, limited admissions; purchase tickets here: CHMuseums.org/tickets

Summer Programs:

“Wonderful Wednesdays” — Every Wed. from June 15-July 27 at 10:15-11 a.m. and 11:15-noon. Museum of York County presents a variety of dinosaur-themed activities with two time-slots every Wednesday. Wonderful Wednesdays are recommended for children 7 years and older and their families. Free with general admission. Programs descriptions here: CHMuseums.org/upcoming-events

Summer Planetarium Shows:

“Carolina Skies” — Every Sat. at 2 p.m. (except June 11 and Sept. 24)

“Dinosaur Discovery” — June 14 – Aug. 13 every Sat. at 11 a.m.; Tues. – Fri. at noon (Multiple showings on June 11)

“Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?” — June 12 – Aug. 14; Tues. – Sun. at 3:30 p.m.

“Drifting North – The Arctic Pulse” — Aug. 16 – Sept. 30 (except Sept. 24); Tues. – Sun. at 3:30 p.m.

“Cosmix” — Aug. 20 – Sept. 17; every Sat. at 11 a.m.

Permanent Exhibition:

“Ice Age Carolinas: Exploring Our Pleistocene Past” — Museum of York County’s major permanent exhibit is a journey-back-in-time experience. Encounter the strange, gigantic, and fantastic beasts that once roamed the Carolinas. Featuring life-size models, taxidermy mounts, diorama and habitat settings, fossils, interactives, and interpretive displays, Ice Age Carolinas portrays the Carolinas’ prehistoric landscapes and wildlife during the Pleistocene Epoch from 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. See, touch, and learn about fossils and the fossil sites in South Carolina that helped paleontologists piece together this fascinating story.

IMAGES:

  1. A life-sized model of Protoceratops, displayed next to its fossil skeleton cast, is part of the American Museum of Natural History’s traveling exhibit “Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas” featured this summer at the Museum of York County. Photo courtesy of American Museum of Natural History.
  2. Art work by India Hook Elementary fourth-grade student, Rachel Torrico, is part of the Museum of York County’s “Dinosaurs Galore,” an exhibit that features dinosaur-inspired student artwork from eight Rock Hill elementary schools. Image courtesy of CHM.
  3. Museum of York County’s life-size model of the Coelophysis, affectionately known as Phyllis, returns for this summer’s exhibit – “Discovering Carolina Dinosaurs.” Image courtesy of CHM.

Contact mcheek@chmuseums.org  for high resolution images.

Fast Facts:

Museum of York County’s special events, planetarium shows, and exhibits are free with general admission.

Reserve online tickets for your visit:  chmuseums.org/tickets

All visitors are encouraged to check the website chmuseums.org  for up-to-date information and potential changes in operational hours, admission procedures, and programs.

 

Museum of York County’s General Hours of Operation:

Tuesdays – Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sundays:  1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Mondays & Holidays: Closed.

Location: Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill, S.C. 29732

Museum of York County’s General Admission:
Adults (18-59) – $8; Seniors (60+) – $7; Youth (4-17) – $5; Members & Children ages three and younger – Free

For groups, seminar registration or other information, contact scheduler@chmuseums.org or call 803.981.9182

As part of the Museums for All initiative, Museum of York County offers year round access with reduced rates for low-income families; visit museums4all.org for more information.

Culture & Heritage Museums Membership:

Members get early access to select ticketed events and more. Consider becoming a Culture & Heritage Museums member or give the gift of membership; learn more about membership benefits and apply online at CHM membership.

About Museum of York County:

The Museum of York County highlights the natural history of the Carolina Piedmont and its connections to the rest of the world. The Naturalist Center, with over 2,000 natural history specimens, provides hands-on opportunities for self-guided discovery and educational programs. The Settlemyre Planetarium is one of only three full-dome digital planetariums in the Charlotte Metro area. The Museum Store has a selection of local handmade pottery and goods, locally produced food products, and nature-themed gifts for children. Outside, the museum has a picnic facility, a three-quarter mile nature trail and a Monarch Waystation.

About Culture & Heritage Museums of York County, S.C:

Culture & Heritage Museums is a family of museums that includes the Museum of York County and Main Street Children’s Museum in Rock Hill; Historic Brattonsville in McConnells; and the McCelvey Center, which includes the Lowry Family Theater, the Historical Center of York County, and the Southern Revolutionary War Institute, in York. Culture & Heritage Museums is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums; accreditation signifies “excellence and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies and to the museum-going public.” 

About American Museum of Natural History:

The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, including the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, which opened in 2021 – those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. The Museum’s scientists draw on a world-class research collection of more than 34 million artifacts and specimens, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum grants the Ph.D. degree in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, the only such free-standing, degree-granting programs at any museum in the United States. The Museum’s website, digital videos, and apps for mobile devices bring its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to millions more around the world. Visit amnh.org for more information. 

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