Interactive dinosaur models come to Dearborn's The Henry Ford in new exhibit

Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press
·3 min read

Life-size dinosaur models, colorful lights and the sounds of clinking metal fill the display room at The Henry Ford's new interactive dinosaur exhibit this summer.

The exhibit, Dinosaurs in Motion, gives visitors a chance to get up close with replica dinosaur models. Opened June 9, the interactive exhibit features 16 life-size dinosaur sculptures in partnership with Imagine Exhibitions.

“Dinosaurs in Motion is the most unique dinosaur exhibition touring right now. No other exhibition using the dinosaur brand offers this level of interactivity in the areas of STEAM,” said Tom Zaller, CEO and president of Imagine Exhibitions. “We are excited to present these incredible works of art in a tactile way that really speaks to the most important educational topics in our culture.”

Rather than real-life dinosaur remains, the exhibit features kinetic sculptures designed for attendees to move around with levers, pulleys and touch screens. The exhibit's work is by John Payne, a metalsmith, Petrelius said.

"He loved puppetry and he loved dinosaurs, so he made these sculptures using recycled metals and wanted them to be interactive and engaging," said Lori Petrelius, museum programs manager for The Henry Ford. "So he really looked at biomechanics to see, how can he make these skeletal sculptures come to life."

Allison O'Connor of Huntington Woods is a museum member and stay-at-home mother. She enjoyed bringing her children to the exhibit, especially the interactive dinosaurs, she said.

"It was much bigger than I thought it would be. There was a lot of different dinosaurs and it explained in great detail how the artist made the exhibit and it was very hands-on and my kids, my six-year-old and my five-year-old, they really enjoyed it," O'Connor said.

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Staff at The Henry Ford planned the exhibition to ensure the most optimal experience for visitors.

"Our exhibits team put a lot of work into deciding where's every single piece going to be," Petrelius said. "It was really a well-oiled machine on the way in."

The Henry Ford will also feature a variety of dinosaur-themed films this summer. Here's the lineup:

  • "Jurassic Park," Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m.

  • "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," Friday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.

  • "T. REX 3D" (Sensory Friendly), Saturday, Aug.10 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

  • "The Land Before Time," Saturday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m.

  • "Jurassic World," Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.

The Dinosaurs in Motion exhibit runs through Sept. 8 at The Henry Ford in Dearborn.

"It's a great exhibit for the whole family," Petrelius said. "Everybody who comes in can interact and engage in a new way and it's going to be all summer, so it's a great time to come in, cool off for a little bit, engage with some fun dinosaurs and enjoy the rest of the museum too."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The Henry Ford in Dearborn offers interactive dinosaur exhibit