Hours
Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10AM–5PM (last entry at 4PM)
Offered in English & Spanish.
What's it all about?
The Dueling Dinosaurs is an incredible fossil that contains the skeletons of two extinct animals— a tyrannosaur and a Triceratops. What happened to these two dinosaurs? Who were they, and how did they come to be buried together? It’s a 67-million-year-old mystery, just waiting to be solved.
The Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit will introduce you to this amazing fossil and its story—as much as we know so far. In this interactive and immersive exhibit experience, you can build hypotheses, analyze evidence, and identify the small details that may someday become big news. Come dig into this mystery with us!
What can I see and do?
Have you ever wondered how paleontologists know what they know about dinosaurs? How do they know what dinosaurs looked like, what colors they displayed, or how their muscles moved? How do they obtain all that information from a jumble of rocks and bones? The Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit will answer all those questions and more.
Like our paleontologists, you will practice extracting information from fossil evidence to build a picture of the ancient past. You will design your own dinosaur by comparing it to living animals. You will see, touch, and even smell the process of paleontology as it happens in the lab. You will use CT scan data to figure out what sounds a dinosaur could hear. You will touch and feel fossils of all shapes and sizes.
Plan your visit
Tickets
Demand is high and space is limited. A FREE, timed-entry ticket is required for all guests, regardless of age. Your ticket provides you access at a specific date and time, ensuring you have the time and space to fully enjoy the Dueling Dinosaurs experience. Reserve your FREE tickets.
If you need assistance with your reservation, please contact the Museum Box Office, Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm, 919.707.9950.
To arrange your visit with a group of 10 or more people, please visit our Group Registration page for more information.
When you arrive
- The exhibit is located on the first floor of the Nature Research Center at 121 West Jones Street.
- When you arrive, proceed directly to the entrance with your tickets at your designated time. If you arrive late, we will do our best to accommodate you, but cannot guarantee there will be space for you in the exhibit.
- Last entry is at 4pm.
All ages are welcome within the exhibit, which contains engaging sights, sounds, touchable objects, and more. The scientific content provided is best suited for middle schoolers and older. Strollers are not advised.
The Dueling Dinosaurs experience includes a fully functional paleontology research lab. Loud sounds, including drilling and sawing, will be heard periodically. Noise-cancelling headphones are available to check out for free at the Information Desk and at the exhibit entrance.