Education | Prehistoric Park

The Age of Dinosaurs: A Brief History

Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for over 160 million years, beginning around 230 million years ago during the Triassic period. These incredible creatures dominated the planet through three major geological periods: the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Early dinosaurs in the Triassic Period (252-201 million years ago) were small, fast, and mostly carnivorous. Most of the "famous" dinosaurs that you are familiar with came from the Jurassic Period (201-145 million years ago). These dinosaurs began to evolve and even included flying dinosaurs. Finally, during the Cretaceous Period (145-66 million years ago), dinosaurs had spread to every continent and even started adapting to colder climates.

What Is A Dinosaur?

Dinosaurs are a group of reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era. Dinosaurs have certain features in their skeletons, such as the number of holes in their skulls and the way their teeth fit into their jaws that make them different from other reptiles such as lizards or turtles. Dinosaurs also differed from other reptiles in the way that they stood. Other reptiles have sprawling or semi-erect postures where the elbows and knees pointed out to the sides. Dinosaurs had an erect posture—their legs were directly underneath their bodies. In that way, the legs more efficiently supported the weight of the body. Mammals also have an erect posture. Dinosaurs lived only on land. The flying reptiles, called pterosaurs, were not dinosaurs. Large prehistoric swimming reptiles such as plesiosaurs and mosasaurs were not dinosaurs either. Birds are living dinosaurs. They are descended from feathered dinosaurs, although dinosaurs did not fly.

When Did Dinosaurs Live?

Dinosaurs were an extremely successful group of reptiles that inhabited the Earth during the period of time known as the Mesozoic Era, dominating the land for more than 100 million years. The Mesozoic Era is divided into three periods: the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. The reign of the dinosaurs did not start until close to the end of the Triassic Period, so of the more than 1,000 kinds of dinosaurs known, there are comparatively few dinosaurs known from that time period. Dinosaurs contains some fossils from the Triassic Period, but most of the 4 dinosaurs in this exhibit are from the Jurassic Period (200 -145 million years ago) or the Cretaceous Period (145 million – 65 million years ago).

How Does A Dinosaur Become A Fossil?

Only a tiny fraction of all the animals that have ever lived are preserved as fossils. There are many things that happen to a dead animal that make fossilization unlikely. The body decomposes; scavengers pull the body apart and devour it. Wind and rain can destroy the body. But in rare, special circumstances, a dead animal is buried rapidly before any of these things can start to destroy the body. An animal that dies in or near water is more likely to be buried quickly by sediments in the water. Over thousands, even millions, of years, minerals contained in groundwater can be deposited within the animals’ bones. The minerals make the bone heavier and it feels like rock. This is what people mean when they call something “petrified.” Paleontologists call this process permineralization and replacement.

Meet Our Dinosaurs

Learn all about the fierce dinosaurs dwelling at our park. As you stroll through our dinosaur trail, you'll encounter a mix of friendly creatures and ferocious beasts. Marvel at our lifelike animatronic dinosaurs that roar and move, adding excitement to your adventure.

Meet Our Dinosaurs

Field Trips With Your School

Discover the wonders of dinosaurs with our educational programs at the park. Designed for schools and families, our hands-on activities, like fossil digging and guided tours, make learning fun and engaging. Whether you're crafting, scavenger hunting, or exploring our animatronic dinosaurs, education becomes an exciting adventure. Ready to unleash your inner paleontologist?

Group Adventures