DinoQuest A Tropical Trek Through Time
May 1 – October 3, 2010
The Missouri Botanical Garden is marking the golden anniversary of one of its most popular attractions, the Climatron®, by transporting visitors back in time to the golden age of dinosaurs. Feel the thrill of encountering a hulking Placerias, bird-like Bambiraptor or soaring Sordes in an unparalleled environment: hidden in the heart of a thriving tropical rain forest. Witness dozens of these realistic, pre-historic creatures when "DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time" debuts in 2010.
Since 1960, the Climatron has easily been one of the most recognizable features at the Garden, noted as the first geodesic dome to be used as a plant conservatory. Inside, lush green foliage, cascading waterfalls and a warm, humid climate simulate an authentic jungle atmosphere.
On the "trek through time," visitors of all ages will experience life in a tropical forest long ago, today and tomorrow. A smooth pathway winds through the 24,000-square-foot Climatron conservatory, where more than a dozen installations depict dinosaurs and reptiles from the Cretaceous, Jurassic, Triassic and Permian periods "frozen in time" amid the living flora. Click here for a list of creatures on display.
The dinosaur discovery continues inside the Brookings Interpretive Center, where visitors will find a one-and-one-half-ton slab of sandstone containing over 200 bones, a mini-dino dig site, and the Dino Egg Incubator, an original prop from the set of the movie Jurassic Park III. Families can explore life in tropical forests today and learn how Garden researchers are working feverishly to document, protect and preserve these at-risk ecosystems for generations to come.
Special themed classes, events and activities will be offered throughout the exhibition’s duration, including "Jurassic Dark" extended Thursday evenings, DinoQuest Sleepovers, and a MovieFest. Additional activities include dinosaur-themed summer camp sessions, tropical forest ecology classes and guided tours for school groups, workshops for educators and family backpack adventures.
The dinosaur discovery continues inside the Brookings Interpretive Center, where visitors will find a one-and-one-half-ton slab of sandstone containing over 200 bones, a mini-dino dig site, and the 
