Dinosaur fans get ready to be amazed.
Dinosaur CSI: Cretaceous Science Investigation, the newest exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, is mesmerizing and just plain exciting with some of the rarest and most well-preserved prehistoric specimens on the planet.
The two best features of the exhibit are its unique finds from a wide range of animals – these aren’t your typical, popular dinos on display. From the gorgosaurus (meat lizard) with its crushing jaw and tiny, feathery arms that may have been used in courtship to the delicate, bird-like bambiraptor, even dinosaur buffs are sure to find something new and exciting.
Although the name of the exhibit implies a forensic approach to learning about the dinosaurs, this is the one area it lacks, creating false expectations. Rather than the hands-on look at how scientists decipher dinosaur remains as the name implies, the exhibit is mostly a walking tour of information placards. Most of the discovery part of the exhibit comes from clips of television shows, which are immensely hard to sit through when you want to get on to the physical specimens.
However, the fossils and information, even in standard form, are enough to make the exhibit worthwhile. Personal favorites were a bulletproof fish, the touchable fossilized dinosaur skin and the main attraction, the world premier of Leonardo the brachylophosaurus.
Leonardo was an incredible find for paleontologists, as his fossilization preserved much of his rare soft tissue: skin, organs – even stomach contents. Leonardo, a type of duck-billed dinosaur (think Ducky from The Land Before Time, if you must), was worth the trip by himself. Sprawled on his side, head curled under, the brachylophosaurus is presented exactly the way he was preserved 77 million years ago. Every wrinkle, fold and indention of his skin is visible in eerie clarity, and he gives you a new sense of these creatures as living, breathing animals.
Only the X-rays of Leonardo’s insides disappointed – for the most part they were unclear, and a little better labeling would have helped visitors know what they’re looking at in the grayish blobs paleontologists refer to as his heart and stomach.
The star of the show is, appropriately, saved until the end, but visitors should be sure to take their time through the whole thing. The dinosaurs are fascinating, and the information cards keep the focus on basic information and interesting theories, sometimes even with a bit of humor. Elvis, another duckbill on display, is named so for his "beautiful pelvis," while one crocodile-like animal is described as not just dangerous, but "super-dangerous."
The exhibit builds in excitement as you go through, though a tantalizing glimpse of Leonardo early in the tour gives the visitor a taste of what’s to come.
The tour is punctuated with moments of amazement. Probably the first "wow" moment is a fossil of an ichthyosaur (a type of aquatic dinosaur) with fossilized infants visible within the mother’s body. Morbid? Certainly. Incredible? Oh yes.
Though anything with the word "dinosaurs" is sure to draw families, the exhibit overall isn’t particularly kid-friendly. Aside from a fossil dig/sand pit, most kids won’t have the patience to read all the information and will want to rush through once they’re done looking at the pictures. Parents, read what you can.
Dinosaur: CSI is an exhibit for older kids and adults who still love dinosaurs and want to see some of the latest finds and theories. The animals are unique, the specimens are amazing and think twice before you leave – you may want to go through again.
Dinosaur: CSI
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Tickets: $15 adults, $12 for children
Verdict: The name misleads, but you won’t even care.