Mingle with dinosaurs at ‘Jurassic World’ at the Franklin Institute

Welcome to “Jurassic World: The Exhibition” at the Franklin Institute. Created by Universal Studios, Imagine Exhibition and Creature Technology Co., the dinosaurs from the big screen have invaded the City of Brotherly Love.

Since making its North American debut at the Franklin Institute in November, “Jurassic World” is quickly becoming one of their most successful traveling exhibitions in the last 10 years. When it first opened in Melbourne, Australia, Larry Dubinski, president and CEO of the Franklin Institute, knew it would be a hit in Philadelphia:

“The Franklin has had a great track record of debuting and attracting world class exhibitions including ‘King Tut,’ ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Body Worlds’ to name a few. ‘Jurassic World’ is a brand people know and love. This exhibit helps to bolster our mission and help add to the cultural landscape of Philadelphia.”

Once you arrive at the “island” (via a ferry, of course) you’ll be treated to a VIP guest experience led by a virtual park ranger through multiple face to face encounters with these massive reptiles including a Brachiosaurus, a Tyrannosaurus rex and a never before seen raptor training paddock that was not included in the original exhibition. Along the way, you’ll also see how scientists are harnessing dinosaur DNA at the Hammond Creation Center.

The exhibit is proving to be a magical experience for visitors. “I was escorting a mother and her young child throughout the exhibit and he kept asking if the dinosaurs were real,” Dubinski notes. “I kept looking at the mother for a response. She didn’t say a word.”

Children aren’t the only ones in awe of the animatronics. Michelangelo Ilagan, who watched the entire “Jurassic” series at the movie theaters, couldn’t believe the technology has reached this degree of realism.

The dinosaurs may be the main attraction but according to Roseanne Capaccio, his 4-year-old son Dominic found something at the exhibition even more exciting. “He loved that there was a life-size pile of dinosaur poop you could touch.” A roaring good time indeed.

If you go
“Jurassic World: The Exhibition” at the Franklin Institute
Now through April 23, 2017
Franklin Institute
222 N. 20th St.
Daytime admission (general admission is included) 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Adults: $34.95; children (3-11): $29.95
Evening admission (general admission is not included) 5-8 p.m.
Adults: $19.95, children (3-11): $14.95
215-448-1200
fi.edu