The Best Michigan Dinosaur Museums, Events & Attractions
Do you have a budding paleontologist or dinosaur enthusiast in your family?
Get ready to roar like a T-Rex because this list is for anyone in Michigan or the Midwest that loves dinosaurs!
There are a ton of cool places – dinosaur museums, dinosaur parks – dinosaur events – where you can see and learn about these fascinating creatures.
Add these stops to your Michigan bucket list – let’s go!
Brachiosaurus at WMU’s dinosaur park in Kalamazoo, MI
in this article
Dinosaur Events in Michigan
Keep an eye out for traveling dinosaur-themed events. They tend to visit a city for a few days or weeks and then move along and are not typically associated with a museum.
Some national tours that are known to visit Michigan and the Midwest include:
Jurassic Quest
Cleveland, OH: Nov 8 – 10, 2024
Fort Wayne, IN: Nov 22 – 24, 2024
Detroit, MI: Dec 27-30, 2024
Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest, most popular dinosaur event with unique and exciting experiences for the whole family. See life-sized dinosaurs including Apatosaurus, Spinosaurus, and T.rex. Interact with our dino trainers, baby dinos and watch a live Raptor Training Experience. Join “The Quest”, an interactive adventure with clues throughout the exhibit. Explore dinosaur rides, take part in a giant fossil dig, bounce in our inflatables, check out the Fossil Experience, tumble in our “Triceratots” soft play area, and MORE!
Dino Bones at Lakeshore Museum with Paleo Joe
June 1, 2024 – December 30, 2024
Guiding you through this captivating adventure is none other than Paleo Joe, esteemed paleontologist and your expert companion on this expedition.
Paleo Joe at the Museum: Fossil Prep Days – Watch Paleo Joe clean and prepare fossils for a future exhibit and ask him questions about his job:
July 26th – 10:00 am-12:00 pm
August 30th – 10:00 am-2:00 pm
September 28th – 10:00 am-2:00 pm
December 21st – 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
Paleo Joe at the Museum: Presentation Day – Sit in and listen to Joe’s latest work and discoveries:
September 28th, 6:00pm-7:30pm. RSVP is required for this lecture. Cost: Free for Muskegon County Residents and Members. $5 for Non-Residents.
Dinosauria at the Detroit Zoo
Detroit area:
May 25 – September 8, 2024
Fantastic Fossils
– St. Johns: June 4 – September 6 , 2024
Dinosaurs in Motion at The Henry Ford
Dearborn
June 9 – September 8, 2024
Dino Adventures at John Ball Zoo
Grand Rapids
July 15 – November 10, 2024
Starting on July 15, John Ball Zoo visitors will have the thrilling opportunity to encounter over 20 life-size dinosaurs in Grand Rapids.
The upper reaches of the zoo transform into a prehistoric adventure, which will stay in Grand Rapids through November 15, 2024.
Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family Exhibit at the Michigan Science Center
Detroit
October 6, 2024 – January 12, 2025
Dinosaur Parks & Gardens
Would you like to stop at a theme park filled with life-sized dinosaur replicas? Yes? Then it’s time to head to a Michigan dinosaur park!
While the attractions at these parks very greatly from venue to venue, you can be sure they’re all dinosaur-themed.
1 – Western Michigan University Dinosaur Park
2101 Wilbur Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49006
The WMU Dinosaur Park is a free outdoor park that is open to the public.
Visit to see 10 large-scale model replica dinosaurs, Brachiosaurus included.
Triceratops at Western Michigan University Dinosaur Park in Kalamazoo, MI
Located just east of Rood Hall, this dinosaur park is tucked away on Western Michigan University’s campus.
Dinosaurs to See Here:
Get face to face with a Brachiosaurus, Spinosaurus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Utahraptor, Parasaurolophus, Allosaurus, and Dilophosaurus.
FreeBonus!
Go inside Rood Hall to the first floor.
That’s where you’ll find the Schmaltz Geology Museum and can spot Mastodon fossils, mineral specimens, and shark teeth.
Shark teeth on display in Schmaltz Geology Museum – Source
The museum is free to enter and is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 5PM (except for holidays and university closures).
2 – Dinosaur Gardens
11160 U.S. 23 South Ossineke, MI, 49766
Located just south of Alpena, MI, you’ll want to visit Dinosaur Gardens. It’s a 40-acre dinosaur park that’s open in the summertime and has been around for generations.
Take the self-guided half-mile walk to mosey amongst 13 different gigantic prehistoric creatures.
Educational signs outline dinosaur facts at each stop.
Dinosaurs to See Here:
You will be up close and personal with 13 different large scale model dinosaurs, including a Velociraptor & Stegosaurus.
📷 T-Rex at Dinosaur Gardens
Bonus:
To add more to your adventure, Dinosaur Gardens offers packages that include a variety of activities, including a fossil dig, miner’s sluice, putt putt golf and a gift shop.
Noteworthy:
Paleo Joe offers fossil digs in Alpena and Rogers City, MI. Pre-registration required. Pay by the carload of fossil hunters.
Dinosaurs Museums in Michigan
If you want a dinosaur visit that includes fossils, dino replicas, and a place to see what life was like when dinosaurs were alive, you’ll want to find a dinosaur museum to visit.
Lucky for us, we have several museums with dinosaur exhibits in Michigan, as well as in nearby states.
3 – MSU Museum Dinosaur Exhibit
The MSU Museum: 409 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI 48823
*NOTE: The MSU Museum is starting an 18-month renovation project on July 1, 2024 and is currently closed.
The MSU Museum features an astonishing exhibit featuring two massive, fully articulated dinosaur skeletons and plenty of other fascinating fossils.
The dinosaur exhibit is located in Habitat Hall inside The MSU Museum.
Dinosaurs to See Here:
A complete skeleton of a Stegosaurus and Allosaurus, a life size T-Rex skull, plus a collection of various dinosaur skulls from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
/image
The MSU Museum: 409 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI 48823
*NOTE: The MSU Museum is starting an 18-month renovation project on July 1, 2024 and is currently closed.
The MSU Museum features an astonishing exhibit featuring two massive, fully articulated dinosaur skeletons and plenty of other fascinating fossils.
The dinosaur exhibit is located in Habitat Hall inside The MSU Museum.
Dinosaurs to See Here:
A complete skeleton of a Stegosaurus and Allosaurus, a life size T-Rex skull, plus a collection of various dinosaur skulls from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
📷 Stegosaurus at MSU Museum Dinosaur Exhibit
Bonus:
Admission is free to this museum but registration is required.
4 – University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
Biological Sciences Building, 2nd Floor
1105 North University Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48109
At the U of M Museum of Natural History, you will find an exhibit that will take you on a journey through 4 billion years of life on Earth. You will discover dinosaur skeletons and other prehistoric animals.
Dinosaurs to See Here:
Dolichorhynchops, a short-necked plesiosaur of the Cretaceous period that live in the shallow seas covering the land that is now Wyoming and Kansas.
Majungasaurus, a late Cretaceous dinosaur from the Mahajanga province of Madagascar and the largest predator of its environment.
Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas
A traveling exhibition from the American Museum of Natural History opens on February 17 and runs through September 15, 2024.
📷Dinosaur Cast at University the of Michigan Natural History Museum
Dinosaur Play Areas
If your little one is a dinosaur lover and just wants a fun dinosaur backdrop, consider a visit to an indoor, dinosaur-themed play area.
5 – Stage Nature Center in Troy, MI
6685 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, MI 49098
At Stage Nature Center in Troy, MI, kids will love pretending to be an archaeologist as they dig through rubber mulch for Mastodon fossils at this indoor dig site.
After you’ve discovered fossils, stop by the exhibit hall to learn about Michigan’s native wildlife, see live animals on the aqua wall then hit up the trails for some fresh air.
Bonus: Free Admission
📷 Mastodon Dig Site at Stage Nature Center
6 – Fun Zonez
27200 Joy Rd, Redford Charter Twp, MI 48239
Fun Zonez is located 25 minutes west of Detroit near Livonia.
Play, eat and celebrate at this dinosaur themed indoor family fun center. Immerse yourself in virtual reality games, Jurassic World themed laser tag, a dinosaur themed play structure, toddler area + more.
Dinosaurs to See Here:
Take in the life sized animatronic dinosaurs, including a T-Rex.
📷 Animatronic T-Rex at Fun Zonez
7 – Dinoland
26450 Ford Rd, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
32109 John R Rd, Madision Heights, MI 48071
Bring your socks to play at Dinoland.
Let your kids channel their inner dinosaurs and release their boundless energy at this indoor play area and café, designed with a dino-themed twist.
Littles 12 months and up will love the soft climbing play structures, slides, tunnels and the life like dinosaurs.
📷 Dinoland
Bonus:
Free admission for adults and infants under 12 months.
Worth the Drive: Dinosaur Exhibits, Parks & Museums in the Midwest
If you’re a dinosaur enthusiast, you’ll find the Midwest’s dinosaur exhibits, museums, and experiences to be incredibly fascinating.
With just a weekend trip to Indianapolis or Chicago, you can immerse yourself in some of the region’s most impressive dinosaur-related activities.
8 – Children’s Museum of Indianapolis – Indianapolis, IN
3000 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Why you should go:
At the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis you can explore three floors filled with dinosaur skeletons, casts, dig sites, and even have the opportunity to touch real dinosaur bones.
Archaeology Lab and Dig Site inside of the Indianapolis Children’s Museum
Contemplate and theorize which dinosaur would be victorious in a hypothetical battle between a Triceratops and a T-Rex.
The whole family will be captivated by the chance to design their very own dinosaur, which is brought to life on a projection screen.
Dinosaur casts at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum
9 – Jurassic Gardens – North of Chicago, IL
Volo Auto Museum, 27582 Volo Village Rd, Volo, IL 60073
Why you should go:
Immerse yourself in a thrilling adventure at Jurassic Gardens, featuring more than 30 animated dinosaurs, dark passageways, and thundering sound effects.
Engage in a hands-on experience at the Dino-lab, Dino-dig, and Moldville Plastic Factory, where you can create your very own plastic dinosaur right before your eyes.
📷 T-Rex from Jurassic Gardens
Note:
For those sensitive to loud noises, bring headphones. The 3rd Sunday of the Month is Sensory Sunday between 10 AM – 12 PM
10 – Field Museum – Chicago, IL
1400 S Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60605
Why you should go:
At the Field Museum, you can encounter the largest dinosaur ever discovered by scientists. Meet Maximo the Titanosaur, a towering long-necked herbivore that originated in Argentina.
For an in-depth look at this colossal creature, catch his story from hatching to adulthood at the 3D theater.
📷 Maximo the Titanosaur from The Field Museum
Bonus:
You can explore the rich history of the earth and its inhabitants, from single-celled organisms to humankind, by visiting Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet plus you’ll see Sue the T-Rex too. This exhibit is included with admission.
11 – Children’s Museum – Chicago, IL
Navy Pier, 700 East Grand Ave. Suite 127, Chicago, Illinois 60611
Why you should go:
Make your next destination in Chicago the Children’s Museum, where kids can have a blast digging for bones in the excavation pit and embarking on an adventure to discover a realistic re-creation of a Saharan expedition.
📷 Excavation pit at Chicago Children’s Museum
12 – Bess Bower Dunn Museum – North of Chicago, IL
1899 West Winchester Rd, Libertyville IL 60048
Why you should go:
At the Dunn Museum you can observe their oldest artifact, a fossil rock estimated to be 420 million years old. Additionally, you can learn about the dinosaurs that lived in Lake County, and get up close and personal with Dunn’s very own Dryptosaurus.
📷 Fossils from Dunn Museum
Bonus:
Don’t forget to help excavate the ice age dig site.
13 – Center of Science & Industry – Columbus, OH
333 West Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
Why you should go:
Embark on a journey to COSI and prepare to be thrilled by the sight of a six-foot-long mechanical T-Rex model that moves in place, an eight-foot-long femur belonging to a Titanosaur, and a life-size model of an Oviraptor nest with 20 eggs that can be climbed on.
Your admission to COSI includes access to “Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs,” where you can learn about these prehistoric flying creatures through casts of rare fossils, life-size models, and interactive exhibits that allow for hands-on exploration.
📷 Center of Science & Industry (COSI) Dinosaur Exhibit
14 – Fossil Park – NW of Toledo, OH
5705 Centennial Road, Sylvania, Ohio
Why you should go:
Fossil Park abounds in fossilized brachiopods, coral, and over 200 different species of prehistoric life. Uncover these hidden riches through excavation and keep what you discover!
The digging pit is open seasonally mid-April to the end of October.
Bonus:
Fossil hunting, admission & parking are free.
Michigan Dinosaur FAQs
What dinosaurs lived in Michigan?
Dinosaurs fossils have never been discovered in Michigan. Fossils tell us that prehistoric creatures like wooly mammoths and mastodons once roamed Michigan, though.
Are Mastodons Dinosaurs?
Mastodons (mammal) are not dinosaurs (reptile), although they are prehistoric creatures. Mastodons and dinosaurs did not roam the Earth together – they existed during different time periods. For reference, mastodons were similar in size to Triceratops but mastodons looked like shaggy elephants.
Are mastodons a big deal in Michigan?
Yes! The state fossil of Michigan is the Mastodon. So many mastodon fossils were found in Michigan that in 2002, school kids from Washtenaw & Wayne counties campaigned to make the mastodon the Michigan State Fossil, They were successful! it became our state fossil in 2002. The most recent Mastodon fossil was found in 2022 in Kent County and will hopefully be displayed in the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
