‘We’re Back!’ – Dinosaurs reawaken at Upcountry History Museum

June 6, 2022

Hear the roars, feel the rattle of pounding footsteps, and marvel at the incredible creatures in the world of Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice, the newest exhibition opening at the Upcountry History Museum-Furman University, a Smithsonian Affiliate, on Saturday, June 11, 2022, and on display through Sunday, January 29, 2023.

This bilingual interactive experience brings children face to face with the prehistoric world as they cross thresholds of three distinctive sections to explore the steamy Land of Fire and the chilly Land of Ice, as well as don research vests in the Field Research Station to uncover dinosaur bones in a dig site and examine fossils.

The Land of Fire connects visitors with the prehistoric home of the Triceratops and T-Rex. Children can circle the land in insect costumes, buzz through a volcano with oozing lava, and work through a swampy bog to identify an ecosystem of animals and plants. No coats are needed for a trip across the “Land of Ice” where visitors meet two dinosaurs, a Troodon and Edmontosaurus, who made their homes in the cold climate of Alaska. Activities include climbing rocky steps, breezing down an icy slide, and hopping across steppingstones in an icy river.

Young explorers will be fascinated with sculpted, touchable life-sized models that feature scientific discoveries about dinosaurs’ colors, textures, and structural forms – all while investigating clues these prehistoric creatures left behind. Though developed for children ages 3-10 years old, this distinctive exhibition will appeal to other age groups as it builds on the popular fascination with dinosaurs, their history, the science of their existence and extinction, and the stories surrounding their demise.

Created by Minnesota Children’s Museum, Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice will open up the world of dinosaur habitats to better understand how these mysterious animals lived. Several UHM events, such as Family Fun Day and special toddler activity programs, are scheduled throughout the run of the exhibition. Dates and details for these events are on the website.

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.