This Holiday Season, let the new Temerty Dinosaur Galleries inspire some artistic creations from December 27, 2007 until January 6, 2008
(Toronto, Ontario – December 5, 2007) - The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) celebrates ROM for the Holidays from Thursday, December 27, 2007 to Sunday, January 6, 2008, with dinosaur-themed family programming in honour of the new James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs and the Gallery of the Age of Mammals. Programming is offered daily from 11 am to 4 pm, and is FREE with general ROM admission.
After exploring the inspirational and fascinating new galleries, visitors are invited to create dinosaur murals, uncover and handle real dinosaur fossils, build 3-D dinosaur sculptures and much more! A variety of activity stations will be available for all members of the family to enjoy, including Dinosaur Detectives, Design-a-Dino and Dinosaur Dig. Also, the galleries will be filled with knowledgeable facilitators to explain and answer questions. Family favourites such as the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity and the CIBC Discovery Room offer touchable artifacts and specimens to examine. The ROM’s Food Studio will offer a special family dinosaur holiday meals including Brachio Burgers, Pastaceritops, and many other dinolicious selections.
Visitors during ROM for the Holidays will be among the first to explore the new home of the dinosaurs and mammal galleries, the first permanent galleries in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, which are unveiled December 15, 2007. Taking up the entire second level of the Crystal, these galleries span a vast 1,450 sq. metres (15,600 sq. ft.) and boast 5.4-metre (18-foot) high ceilings that accommodate the tallest and largest specimens, including “Gordo,” the massive Barosaurus, Canada’s largest dinosaur.
The new galleries present more than 750 specimens including about 50 dinosaur specimens, of which 20 are complete or nearly complete skeletons, as well as 26 full mammal skeletons, representing the diversity of life during the Age of Dinosaurs and the Age of Mammals. Some of the Museum’s largest specimens will be visible through Museum windows onto Bloor Street—providing passers-by with an intriguing preview of the treasures inside.
ROM for the Holidays Admission Prices (10 am – 5:30 pm): Adults: $20; Students and Seniors (with ID): $17; Children (5 to 14 years): $14; Children (4 and under): FREE; ROM Members: FREE