The Dinosaur Museum celebrates Monster Birthday at 25

June 24, 2009 - PRLog -- On Saturday 27th June, the Dinosaur Museum is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Museum opened in 1984, in Dorchester, gateway to Dorset's World Heritage Jurassic Coast. From the very beginning visitors loved its novel and innovative approach to dinosaurs, and It quickly became the Town's foremost visitor attraction bringing, over the years, millions of dinosaur hungry families and schools to the county town.

Jackie Ridley, the Museum's Director, said  "The Museum was an instant success when it opened. People were really excited. At the time it was a complete departure from the rather academic and stuffy "hands-off" approach of conventional museums." She continued  "We tried to be user friendly using entertaining methods of communication and not to talk down to visitors".

The Dinosaur Museum was the first museum in Britain to use computers in a display environment with specially written programs. It also invented the 'Feely Box' the most popular of all the hands on displays that has since spread to become a standard hands-on display in many museums.

25 years ago, the Dinosaur Museum broke new ground with its unique approach to its displays and method of communicating with its visitors. This approach has influenced major museums in Britain and abroad.

The Museum was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award in 1985. Since then it has won many accolades including twice being voted one of Britain's Top Ten Hands on Museums, as well as Dorset's Family Attraction of the Year. Most recently it was chosen as one of Britain's Ten Best Child-Friendly Museums.

The Dinosaur Museum has consistently enthralled and entertained visitors with its mix of fossils, skeletons, dinosaur reconstructions combined with hands on and multimedia displays. Many who visited the Museum as children have fond memories and are now returning with their own children.

Tim Batty, the Museum's Curator is enthusiastic about the future. He said "The Museum is an interpretative museum. To achieve this, we continue to add new ideas and innovations, bringing new approaches that we hope will bring dinosaurs to new generations in the 21st century.

The Dinosaur Museum is a family museum and has frequently appeared on television, usually in children's programmes such as Blue Peter, the Tweenies and many others.

As part of the twenty fifth anniversary The Dinosaur Museum will be holding a special celebration day on Saturday 27th June with free refreshments and free admission for children (accompanied by an adult).

The Museum, in collaboration with local shops, has also organised a special free dinosaur hunt. Some of our Dinosaurs are Missing. The hunt in Dorchester town centre will take place from Saturday 20th until 5th July giving children a chance to win many great prizes. Other special events are planned throughout the summer.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:   9.30 AM Saturday 27th June at The Dinosaur Museum, Icen Way, Dorchester. Visit our website: http://www.thedinosaurmuseum.com
Dougal Dixon, the internationally renowned author and dinosaur expert who opened the Dinosaur Museum 25 years ago, will be "cutting the ribbon" for the Museum's next 25 years. Dougal will be assisted by Dina the "live" life-size Corythosaurus.

# # #

World Heritage administers a range of exhibitions and museums of international stature. It also organises travelling and temporary exhibitions which are available for hire.