The Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC Has a Dinosaur Trail

I have lived in North Carolina for close to two decades now and it wasn’t until around two years ago that I discovered the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. In an effort to get out more and wean myself away from being a workaholic I picked out the museum as a day trip one Saturday. I have always been a museum nerd and when I found out that the museum had a dinosaur trail AND a giant ant farm I was in.

The Dinosaur Trail is Small but a Fun Experience

The museum itself isn’t huge, it wouldn’t rival the likes of most Natural History Museums but for someone looking for a fun afternoon out and an educational experience that includes dinosaurs, it’s a great trip. The Dinosaur Trail doesn’t make up a huge portion of the museum experience either but the dinosaur that there are make it a fun walk – as long as it’s not 1 million degrees with that Carolina humidity!

Some of My Favorite Pictures of the Dinosaur Trail

Dinosaur Trail Parasaurolophus — Image Courtesy of the NC Museum of Life and Science

You knew there was going to be a Parasaurolophus didn’t you? Well there was, and I loved it…and I may have wanted to take it home with me until the Dr. reminded me it wouldn’t fit in the car…or on top of the car. And it would be stealing.

There is also a nest of Maiasaura hatchlings being protected by their mother which was pretty darn cute.

I really liked these Troodon as well because of the feathers and the crazy blue coloration. It was a nice change to see this dinosaur represented as birdlike as well as reptile like.

This Styracosaurus was ready to take on an Albertosaurus that has targeted it and an Edmontonia as a potential meal.

These two boneheads were just playing around…okay, they’re Stygimoloch’s but, they are members of the Pachycephalosauridae family, which makes them thick skulled and dome headed.

There’s Plenty More to See on the Dinosaur Trail

There is plenty more to see at the Durham Museum of Life and Science and along the dinosaur trail itself including: Alamosaurus, Leptoceratops and Edmontonia. If you’re interested in previewing the dinosaur trail, listen to the MP3 enhanced Podcast tour for your iPhone or iPod from the NCMLS website.