Washington Pavilion announces dinosaur-themed additions

Two interactive dinosaur exhibits inside and new dinosaur sculptures outside are coming to the Washington Pavilion.

The new additions are thanks to a more than $250,000 grant from the David B. Jones Foundation.

The Kirby Science Discovery Center, which has been completely redone over the past five years, will house the two new interactive games in the Dinosaur Discovery exhibit. They’re designed to teach kids more about how dinosaurs lived while they try to help them escape extinction.

Another fossil also has been added to the Dinosaur Discovery area.

“We are excited to add these new exhibits and place further emphasis on one of our guests’ favorite topics: dinosaurs! Because of these new exhibits and our ongoing improvements, no two visits to the Washington Pavilion are ever the same, so we encourage the community to come check us out again or for the first time,” said Brandon Hanson, director of museums for Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

Visitors also will find new colorful depictions of Radley Rex engaging with space and science on the concession area windows.

Later this summer, additional dinosaur sculptures will join the other Spinosaurus dinosaurs on the Main Avenue side of the Washington Pavilion.

“A lot of children aren’t exposed to paleontology in schools, but they love dinosaurs. The foundation’s goals in this grant funding are to attract young people to the science center and create more interest in the fields of paleontology and archaeology,” said Jeffrey Malone, president of the David B. Jones Foundation.

Over the past 12 years, the David B. Jones Foundation has provided more than $1 million in grant funding to the Washington Pavilion for various projects, including mascot Radley Rex, the interactive Jeep experience, the Dinosaur Discovery exhibit and the recent addition of the Prehistoric Adventure Climber on the fourth floor of the Kirby Science Discovery Center.

“Without the support of our sponsors and partners, our amazing Kirby Science Discovery Center would not be possible. Thank you especially to the David B. Jones Foundation for their generous support of the mission of the Washington Pavilion of Arts & Science,” said Chelsea Cronin, director of development for the Pavilion.

The Pavilion also will be releasing more details about additional exhibits the grant will fund.