Dinosaur State Park’s Discovery Room to Close Temporarily for Renovations

The Exhibit Center at Dinosaur State Park, will close beginning Monday, February 25 for four to five weeks for renovations to the Park’s Discovery room.  The dinosaur track area, restrooms and bookshop will also be closed.

School vacation week programs from February 16 to 17 and February 19 to 24 are scheduled to take place before the renovations begin.

The 2 1/2 miles of outdoor hiking trails will remain open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily during the renovation. 

The Renovation

Includes exhibits for both adults and children and will allow hundreds of specimens that have never been on display to be viewed by the public.  One of the new exhibits, “Connecticut’s Geologic Treasures” will feature an interactive geologic map of the state, drawers containing dozens of specimens from Connecticut and an “Investigation Station” where visitors can examine mica, crystal structures and more. 

 “Life Through Time Exhibit” will showcase hundreds of fossil specimens from different time periods and different parts of the world. Other exhibits include a giant Mesozoic Magnetic Wall, a bird sounds station and a rock core display. 

The renovation of the Discovery Room is the result of many years of planning that included visits to other museums and surveys of park visitors.  The Friends of Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum make this project possible by financing the initial design costs.  We have no doubt that this project will greatly improve the visitor experience but caution parents – your kids won’t ever want to leave!

The public information line (860) 529-8423 and on the Park’s webpage www.ct.gov/deep/dinosaurstatepark will be updated with on the renovation taking place. 

Upcoming Events

 “Darwin Days” school vacation week special programs are scheduled from February 16-24 (park is closed Monday, February 18) before closing for the renovation on February 25.

School Programs can be booked for grades 1 and up for the months of April, May and June.  For more information contact Meg Enkler at (860) 529-5816 or margaret.enkler@ct.gov