Pterosaurs Come to Natural History Museum LA

I can think of no better way to star a holiday weekend then to head to one of my favorite spots – the Natural History Museum. This morning I found myself there bright and early to preview its latest exhibit – Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs.

The Natural History Museum already has an impressive dinosaur collection and this exhibit enhances it with its focus on the extinct winged reptiles. Featuring a number of rare fossils discovered in such places as the US, Germany, Italy, the UK, China and Brazil it’s an impressive insight into these ancient creatures.

Among the fascinating pieces is an arm bone unearthed in Texas that belonged to a giant Pterosaur.

In addition, there are several models of various species of Pterosaurs ranging from the very small to the very large.

It’s often hard to equate a fossil with a living creature and the models gave a true insight into what these great beings may have been like when they roamed the earth.

Perhaps, the best part of the exhibit are the interactive elements. There are videos scattered throughout featuring interviews with leading paleontologists and there are iPads featuring interactive guides to these fascinating creatures.

Best of all, there’s “Fly Like a Pterosaur.”

©AMNH/D.Finnin

In this experience you can control a Pterosaur’s flight through your arm patterns. Of course, I had to try it and it was super fun. I was soaring…then I was crashing…I was soaring…then I was crashing…let’s just say I’m glad I’m a human and not a dinosaur.

Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs runs from July 3 – to October 2 at the Natural History Museum. There will be Family Days on Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, August 14 and Paleo Ptalks on Tuesday, July 12 and Thursday, August 25. With all this fun activity there’s no excuse to miss it!