PHILADELPHIA, July 18, 2013

Roaring, thrashing, life-size dinosaurs as long as 40 feet—including North America’s largest Jurassic predator—invade the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University this fall when Dinosaurs Unearthed makes its East Coast debut.

State-of-the-art and scientifically accurate—down to the feathers on the juvenile T. rex—the exhibition features 13 animatronic dinosaurs that swat their long tails, swing their bulging necks and stretch their jaws wide to reveal rows of daggerlike teeth. Besides the lifelike beasts displayed in naturalistic outdoor settings, there are casts of two full-size skeletons of Mid-Jurassic dinosaurs discovered in China in the 1980s. Gasosaurus and Huayangosaurus are species that may be unfamiliar to visitors, but they bear a remarkable resemblance to well-known Late Jurassic North American dinosaurs and will delight visitors of all ages.

Dinosaurs Unearthed presents two stirring tales of large-scale excavation sites from opposite sides of the globe and reveals secrets about life on Earth millions of years ago. Dinosaurs Unearthed runs from Oct. 12 through March 30, 2014. There is a $5 fee in addition to regular museum admission.

The exhibition also features real fossils including an Oviraptor egg, Spinosaurus and Mosasaur teeth, and the ever-popular coprolite (dino poop). There are more than a dozen fossil casts of a skull, claw, spine and various other impressive body parts. Compelling, hands-on activities include dig sites for both adults and kids and games that explore dinosaur movement and anatomy.

Even the juvenile dinosaurs in the exhibition will dwarf the guests. Standing beside the 11-foot-tall Ruyangosaurus or the 20-foot-long Allosaurus—the largest predator in North America before T. rex came along millions of years later—will make visitors feel like they’ve been transported back in time.

“When the dinosaurs roar and gesture you can almost feel the floor vibrate under your feet!” said Academy Exhibits Director Jennifer Sontchi. The animatronics that make the dinosaurs seem real use customized mechanical technology and a dynamic jointing system that allows the dinosaurs to move smoothly, quietly and realistically. To see the dinosaurs in action, view the video trailer at www.ansp.org.

Not to be outdone, a 40-foot-long animatronic T. rex will stand guard on the sidewalk outside the Academy for passersby to enjoy for the length of the exhibit. This exhibit was created by Dinosaurs Unearthed.

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