Sixty-seven million years ago-ish a tyrannosaur and a Triceratops died side-by-side. Was it dinner? An epic duel? A natural disaster? That’s exactly what Dueling Dinosaurs — the new exhibit opening this Saturday, April 27, at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences — aims to uncover.
The recently discovered fossil contains among the most well-preserved specimens ever found of these two iconic dinosaurs, and over the next five years, the NCMNS Paleo Team will work to understand these giants + reveal the truth about how they died.
The best part? We, as the visitors, will enjoy a free front-row seat to the whole thing.
🔍 A one-of-a-kind exploration experience
The Dueling Dinosaurs are so large that the Museum built a whole new lab just to study them.
Photo provided by the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Dueling Dinosaurs features the only open-access paleontology lab in the world, the SECU DinoLab.
Combining a real, working lab and modern exhibit elements into one experience, this incredible new approach lets visitors see live, cutting-edge research that will forever change the study of fossils.
Visitors engage directly with researchers + receive updates on the latest findings as they occur, meaning no two tours will ever be the same.
The exhibit also features projection mapping, interactive touch points, and a hands-on area where you can work with tools and technologies used in the lab in front of you.
🦴 Why this dino fossil is so special
These dueling dinos are truly a crown jewel among paleontologists. Not only were they found buried together — which is extremely rare — but this Cretaceous-era fossil contains skeletal structures, skin impressions, soft tissue, healed wounds, and even possible stomach contents.
It is a certified treasure trove of potential discovery, and we get to be there for all of it.
✂️ A can’t-miss Grand Opening
See the exhibit unveiled at the Dueling Dinosaurs Grand Opening this Saturday, April 27. It’s entirely free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
After April 27, the exhibit requires reservable free timed-entry tickets .