Vernon unveils prehistoric exhibits

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star StaffApr 29 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

Massive creatures walked the earth centuries ago, and now they will return to delight and mesmerize children of all ages. The Okanagan Science Centre will host the Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit from Tuesday to Oct. 31, while the Vernon Museum will display mammoth and bison remains from May 12 to Dec. 1.

“People are always fascinated by ancient creatures,” said Ron Candy, museum curator. And there will be a chance to get up close and personal with one as a giant, mechanized tyrannosaurus rex crashes his way through a wall at the science centre. A loud, ear-piercing growl will tell spectators they aren’t alone. “He’s going to be very impressive,” said Kevin Aschenmeier, program facilitator, of the beast. Virtually all of the main floor of the science centre has been taken over by Dinosaurs Unearthed. Walls have been transformed into rock, giving it a prehistoric feel. A dig area allows everyone to try their hand at archeology, while every wall is covered with information displays about dinosaurs and the world they ruled. There are also replicas of entire skeletons and various fossils.

“There’s a whole world of discovery here,” said Sandy Dixon, science centre manager. It’s anticipated the exhibit will be extremely popular. “People love dinosaurs. I’m not sure if it’s because they are big or because they are monsters,” said Aschenmeier. To tap into that passion, the science centre is offering a number of programs beyond the members’ only preview Monday at 6:30 p.m. and the grand opening May 5 at 1 p.m. There will be movie night May 25 and June 8, and a chance to sleep overnight in the centre with the dinosaurs. Dixon anticipates Dinosaurs Unearthed becoming a tourist attraction for Vernon. “We are really stepping out as far as advertising goes,” she said. “We have billboards in Winfield and Enderby and we are advertising in magazines.”

Leaping over a few city blocks and several millions of years, the Vernon Museum is shedding some light on mammoths and bison. “It’s the real stuff here. They are all archeological specimens,” said Candy of the exhibit. And unlike dinosaurs who never inhabited the Okanagan, mammoths and bison roamed the valley. “If someone is in the right spot, they could possibly dig up a portion of a mammoth or a bison,” said Candy. Included in the exhibit is a mammoth tusk from Kamloops and a mammoth tooth from Enderby. The wooly creatures, which died out 10,000 years ago, were about 11 feet in height and weighed four to six tons. Tusks were about 10 feet in length. “Figure two of these hanging off a head, so they were big animals,” said Candy. Those attending the exhibit will also be able to see teeth and skulls from ancient bison, as well as the head of a modern counterpart. “It helps give an idea of how big they were,” said Candy. Admission to Dinosaurs Unearthed is free for Okanagan Science Centre members, $25 for families, $9.99 for adults, $6.99 for youth and seniors and free for ages two and under. Admission to the Vernon Museum is by donation.