Get Your Dinosaur Fix at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

By Emma Rausch December 21, 2015

From the 150-million-year-old Apatosaurus skeleton in the Great Hall to the two-story-tall sculpture of Torosaurus outside, the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, CT, is sure to give your kids their dino fix, plus a whole lot more!

dinosaur in peabody museum

In the museum’s Great Hall stands a 150 million-year-old Apatosaurus, the Peabody’s largest mounted fossil.

No mere collection of artifacts, the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History is home to 40 billion years of history. With a dozen permanent exhibits and tons of interactive events, the Peabody Museum is a haven for curious minds. Kids can investigate the lives of ancient Egyptians, examine both human and dinosaur fossils, and explore outerspace—all under one roof.

hall of minerals earth and space at peabody museum

Visitors to the third-floor Hall of Minerals, Earth and Space will gain an appreciation for the wonders of our planet and solar system.

Year-Round Features

Open daily for learning and exploration, the museum features three floors of permanent halls, representing history ranging from the prehistoric era to the modern history of our area. Audio tours are available.

While the 21-foot-tall bronze dinosaur may initially lure your kids through the doors, you’ll find much more inside, from Daily Life in Ancient Egypt and the Hall of Native American Cultures, to the more local North American Dioramas and Birds of Connecticut. And don’t miss a stop in the Discovery Room for hands-on activities, touchable specimens, and the chance to meet live animals.

In the Human Origins hall, you can see and touch 12 bronze skulls, from a modern human skull to those of our ancestors, as well as our closest living animal relative, the chimpanzee.

Annual Events

Delve further into history with the Peabody’s annual events. These events expand on the museum’s permanent features and provide an opportunity to learn in a hands-on way about subjects ranging from fossils to Latin culture.

Celebrate MLK Day at the museum’s two-day annual event, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice, which typically takes place in mid-January and includes live performances and hands-on activities.

dino days at peabody museum ct

Kids can explore the prehistoric era during their Presidents Week school break in mid-February when the Peabody hosts Dinosaur Days. Kids can learn about paleontology through a fossil dig and a meet-and-greet with paleontology graduates and professionals.

In mid-April, ID Day at the Peabody gives families a chance to bring in their own “artifacts”—from found feathers to backyard insects and beyond—and have them identified by the museum’s experts.

Family Day at the Peabody Museum and A Night at the Peabody Museum, both in late April, feature fun-filled games, crafts, and various other activities. A Night at the Peabody Museum includes a scavenger hunt and the chance to meet live animals in the museum after hours.

Just before the beginning of the school year, kids can enjoy free admission to the Summer’s Last Roar and learn about the museum’s 11,000-year-old Otisville Mastodon.

fiesta latina at peabody museum ct

Fiesta Latina! in October celebrates Latin American culture through traditional and contemporary music and dance performances.

In November, kids in fourth through sixth grades can test their dinosaur smarts in The Annual Paleo-Knowledge Bowl. They’ll compete in teams for prizes such as Peabody memberships, a trophy for their school, and behind-the-scenes tours.

Details

Address: Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave., New Haven, CT

Hours: Open year-round, Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 12-5pm.

Admission: $9; $8 seniors ages 65 and older; $5 children ages 3-18 and college students with ID; $4 group rate (must call two business days ahead); free for students with Yale IDs, and for all visitors on Thursdays from 2-5pm through June.

For more information: 203-432-8987 or peabody.yale.edu