With new additions, Washington Pavilion becomes go-to stop for dinosaur lovers

This paid piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

The team at the Washington Pavilion estimates that of every 10 kids who walk in the door, more than half are wearing something dinosaur-inspired.

“We’re becoming this hub for dinosaurs, and these kids know it, so it’s pretty fun,” said Brandon Hanson, director of museums.

“And if you haven’t been here lately, you’re going to find even more dinosaur-related activities and experiences.”

There’s a lot – for all ages, including adults.

“We’ve launched a number of dinosaur-related exhibits, and people are flocking in to experience them,” Hanson said.

They’re supported by the David B. Jones Foundation, which has contributed more than $1 million in grant funding for multiple projects, including the Dinosaur Discovery exhibit and the wildly popular Prehistoric Adventure Climber.

“One of the most popular areas is our ‘drivable’ Jeep, where they can drive through prehistoric South Dakota – or at least a version of it we fabricated in our minds,” Hanson said.

“They drive and steer off and learn about each dinosaur through an infographic, and kids just love it.”

Learning through gaming

One of the newest dinosaur-themed additions has been an instant hit. It’s an interactive and educational game called Extinction Escape.

“There’s a lot of nostalgia involved – it looks like an old-school video game – where you pick your character and run and dodge asteroids and avoid the Ice Age,” Hanson said. “There’s a lot of competition built into it, and we’ve seen little kids up through dads trying to get the high score. So it’s fun, it’s interactive, and you have a different experience every visit.”

It’s also a custom-built activity you’ll find only at the Washington Pavilion.

“It’s educational in that you choose a dinosaur and each has a different power-up,” Hanson added. “So, for example, if you choose a carnivore, your power-ups are meat.”

Play paleontologist

The dino dig area at the Washington Pavilion also has been upgraded, so get ready for an immersive experience.

“You can dress up, put on a paleontology hat and get your hands dirty,” Hanson said.

“We just upgraded the fossil and went with an allosaurus, which looks like an aggressive T. rex, and there are some dino eggs in there, so it allows kids to see what it’s like to be a paleontologist and gets them excited about a possible career path for the future.”

First Friday fun

The ideal time to visit all these new additions is the first Friday in June – June 3.

Admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center is free from 5 to 8 p.m., and all the programming will focus on dinosaurs:

• Avera Stage Science: Watch demonstrations involving fossils at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and see dinosaurs that used to inhabit South Dakota.
• Wells Fargo CineDome special: The movie playing in the Wells Fargo CineDome will be dinosaur-themed.
• Maker spaces: The Jacks Imagination Lab and Raven Children’s Studio will be offering STEM and art-related hands-on activities involving dinosaurs. Kids also will be provided little dinosaur excavation kits to play paleontologist and take home an unearthed trinket.
• Outdoor activities: Dinosaur-themed chalk art and other activities will take place outside the Pavilion with Sanford Fit.
• Character appearances: Washington Pavilion mascot Radley Rex will make appearances throughout the day and will be joined by new buddy Topsy the Triceratops, a puppet who interacts with kids.
• Special snacks: Dinosaur-themed drinks and snacks will be available for purchase at the Radley Rex Snack Shack.

What’s next

The prehistoric preview visitors experience walking into the Washington Pavilion also will be growing. Two new dinosaurs will join the exterior collection and be installed this summer.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Hanson said. “We just can’t thank the David B. Jones Foundation and all our supporters enough for making us a destination for dinosaur lovers.”

Become a member

There always are new reasons to keep coming back to the Pavilion, and a membership likely offers even more value than you realize, starting at just $5.99 per month for a couple and $9.99 for a family of five.

Click here to learn more.