Dinosaur Museum

Over het museum

The Dinosaur Museum opened in 1984 in Dorchester, the county town of Dorset and a gateway to the Jurassic Coast. It describes itself as the first museum in Britain devoted solely to dinosaurs. It was created by the museum professionals Michael and Jackie Ridley, who wanted adults and children alike to explore the story of Dorset’s fossil heritage in an exciting way.

The museum says it was the first to use computers in interactive displays and that it invented the “feely box”, a touch-and-guess display now used in many museums. It was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award in 1985 and has appeared on several children’s television programmes. It is an independent museum that depends on income from ticket and shop sales and is part of World Heritage Ltd, which also runs other attractions in the town.

The museum is housed in a converted Victorian schoolhouse. Visitors see dinosaur skeletons and life-size reconstructions, including a Stegosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus rex, and real fossils such as dinosaur heads, teeth and eggs that they can touch. Displays introduce fossil pioneers such as Mary Anning and Richard Owen and the dinosaur heritage of the Jurassic Coast, and a Megalosaurus skeleton cast stands over real fossil footprints in the Buckland Room.

Hoogtepunten

• Dinosaur skeletons and life-size reconstructions, including Stegosaurus and T. rex
• Real fossils to touch, including dinosaur heads, teeth and eggs
• Megalosaurus skeleton cast over real footprints in the Buckland Room
• Excavation pit, puzzles and a feely box
• Displays on Mary Anning, Richard Owen and Jurassic Dorset

Vaste collectie

• Dinosaur galleries – Skeletons, life-size reconstructions and real fossils over two floors, with audiovisual and hands-on displays.
• Buckland Room – A Megalosaurus skeleton cast mounted over real fossil footprints.

Opgericht

1984

Beheerder

World Heritage Ltd

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Tickets are sold at the admission desk or online. Children under 3 are free.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: niet aanwezig
• Aangepast toilet: niet aanwezig
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: niet aanwezig
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The entrance has one step, with a temporary ramp at the front door. The ground floor is fully accessible, but the upper floor can only be reached by a staircase of 16 steps and is not accessible to wheelchair users. There are no accessible toilets in the museum; the nearest are by the Waitrose car park entrance in Charles Street, about 200 metres away. The nearest town car park, 25 metres away in Durngate Street, has no designated disabled parking, and Charles Street car park, 200 metres away, is next to the accessible toilets. Displays are placed low where possible, and real fossils can be touched. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations

The museum says its family-friendly approach suits children aged 4 to 10. Children can dig in an excavation pit, solve dinosaur puzzles, use feely boxes and touch real fossils. Free fun sheets lead to a Dino Hunters Achievement Certificate.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is in Icen Way, just off High East Street, and is signposted on foot from the car parks. Dorchester lies on the A35, where it meets the A354 from Weymouth and the A37 from Yeovil.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel

The gift shop sells fossils, models, clothing and books. The museum has its own toilets, and cafés and restaurants are nearby in the town.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Je bezoek plannen