Dinosaurs Invade Portland

According to the Chinese Calendar, 2008 is the Year of the Rat. In Portland, however, it's shaping up to be the Year of the Dinosaur. Throughout the year, the city will host multiple exhibitions dedicated solely to our prehistoric friends. If you (or your kids) love dinosaurs, you now have another big reason to visit Portland in the coming months.

Dinosaurs: China's Ancient Giants
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
Feb. 2 - September 1, 2008

Travel back in time 200 million years and witness China’s most spectacular ancient inhabitants in the largest collection of authentic Chinese fossils ever toured. China’s Ancient Giants features twenty complete dinosaur skeletons (both casts and fossils), interactive touch screens, activity carts, a “dig pit” where kids of all ages can become paleontologists for a day, and a 67 foot long adult Mamenchisaurus, the longest-necked dinosaur ever! Other rarely seen dinosaurs featured in the exhibit include; the fierce Velociraptor, the feathered Caudipteryx, the plant eating Lufengosaurus, the duck-billed Tsintaosaurus, and more. Learn more >>

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
1945 S.E. Water Ave., east bank of the Willamette River.
503.797.4000
www.omsi.edu/dinos

Hatching in the Past: Feathered Dinosaur Eggs and Babies
Portland Classical Chinese Garden
March 1 - June 1, 2008

Take a rare and exciting look at the life of feathered dinosaurs through their eggs, nests and embryos in Hatching the Past: Feathered Dinosaur Eggs and Babies. This remarkable hands-on exhibition gives credence to long debated theories that dinosaurs and birds are closely related. A captivating experience for all ages, Hatching the Past invites visitors to dig for eggs, experience hands-on exploration stations, view an animated video presentation and colorful illustrations of dinosaur family life. Learn more >>

Admission| Tickets
Free with Garden Admission

Portland Classical Chinese Garden
In Old Town/Chinatown at Northwest Third Avenue and Everett Street.
503.228.8131
www.portlandchinesegarden.org

Ancient Trees: Walking in the Footsteps of Dinosaurs
World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
May 17 - August 2, 2008

What were trees like when dinosaurs roamed? Which ones did the dinosaurs eat? Follow the giant footsteps through this intriguing look back in time as we explore 25 living specimen trees that represent ancient plant groups and the herbivores that ate them. Learn more >>

Admission| Tickets
Included with museum admission
$7.00 adults
$6.00 seniors (62+)
$5.00 children 3-18.

World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
Washington Park
4033 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland 503-228-1367
www.worldforestry.org

Dinosaur Revolution
Portland Children's Museum
May 23 - September 1

Dinosaur Revolution Exhibit
Kids and adults get to “Be a Dinosaur” as they journey through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, and later discover evidence of dinosaur doings in the present-time as Junior Paleontologists!

The winding passageways of the dinosaur-themed maze set the stage and begin a journey through a dramatic Patagonian mountainscape. The journey begins through each experience gallery featuring vivid murals and hands-on, body-in interactives including:

• Make Tracks in the Triassic – Slip on full size dinosaur feet and make your own depressions in the ground.
• Grab on, push off and Glide through the Jurassic.
• Create in the Cretaceous –Make your own dinosaurs by experimenting with different features including teeth, tails, plates, wings, feathers, heads, bodies, legs, and tails.
• Climb through time by traversing the Soil Stratification Climbing Wall.
• Become a Junior Paleontologist called on by the Natural History Museum to investigate a mysterious fossil collection!
• Dig up the evidence in the Mystery Fossil Dig, and save the museum from an expensive hoax!

Learn more >>

Admission| Tickets
Members: Free
Children under 1: Free
Ages 1-54: $7
Ages 55 and over: $6

Hours
Open daily 9am-5pm during Dinosaur Revolution

Portland Children’s Museum
Washington Park
4015 S.W. Canyon Rd., Portland.
503.223.6500.
www.portlandcm.org

Dinosaurs!
Oregon Zoo
May 24 - September 2

Explore an ancient rainforest and come face to face with gigantic animatronic dinosaurs, including Stegosaurus, Triceratops, T. Rex, and a dozen others. Dig for fossils, find dinosaur egg nests, track a T. Rex, and more! Learn more >>

Admission| Tickets
Special exhibition fee applies

Hours
9 am - 6 pm daily

Oregon Zoo
Washington Park
4001 S.W. Canyon Rd., Portland
503.226.1561
www.oregonzoo.org/dinos/

Dinosaur Jurassic Journey at WaMu Waterfront Village
Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park - between SW Ash St & SW Salmon St
May 29-June 8, 2008

Come experience for yourself why the Portland Rose Festival's WaMu Waterfront Village has been recognized for having the Best Children's Programming in the World! Our featured exhibit, the Dinosaur Jurassic Journey, will take you and your family on an expedition back 100 million years to a time when Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops ruled the earth, venturing through a prehistoric jungle where you encounter 20 realistic dinosaur replicas and life-sized dinosaur bones! Learn more >>

Admission/Tickets
Dinosaur Jurassic Journey admission included with admission to WaMu Waterfront Village
Kids 6 and under always free courtesy of Les Schwab Tires
Free admission for everyone 11am-4pm Monday-Friday
$5 admission for ages 7 and over after 4pm weekdays and 11am-11pm Saturday & Sunday

Portland Rose Festival
503-227-2681
www.rosefestival.org

Plants of the Pre-Historic World
Hoyt Arboretum
June - September, 2008

The Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center is located in the heart of the Arboretum
4000 SW Fairview Blvd, two miles west of downtown Portland
503.865.8733
www.hoytarboretum.org

Godzilla in the Garden
Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 1p.m

A matinee showing of the classic Japanese film in the Portland Japanese Garden. Free with regular paid admission. Reservations required

Children's Nature Fair
May 17,2008 — 10 A.M. - 3 P.M.

This event features a variety of hands-on educational activities for kids of all ages. This year MEET DINA SPORE! We are celebrating The YEAR OF THE DINOSAUR in Portland. Learn about dinosaurs, where they lived, find fossils and learn about the plants that dinosaurs ate. Learn more >>
Donation: $2.00

Leach Botanical Garden
6704 SE 122nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97290
503.823.9503
www.leachgarden.org

Portland Attractions Pass

Visit Portland's top 10 attractions for a fraction of the combined regular price. Upon purchase, passes are good for a five-day period. The pass is not valid with any other discount offer, group rate or advance ticket sales. Special exhibition fees may apply. More info