Jurassic Oceans exhibit heads to The Field Museum for a limited time

“Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep,” is an immersive exhibit opening Friday at Chicago's Field Museum, and running until September 5th

Bob Nicholls (2003) via Field Museum

(CHICAGO) Starting this Friday, if you're looking for something to do as you wait for the weather to warm up in Chicagoland, you can head over to The Field Museum and immerse yourself in a special new exhibit. Jurassic Oceans showcases the underwater giants that lived on our planet over 200 million years ago.

The exhibit features over 100 fossils and models of sea creatures, including skeletons of up to 22 feet long. Jurassic Oceans comes to Chicago from London's Natural History Museum, where it was produced and curated.

Some of the exhibit's highlights include the most threatening marine predators of the era, including the ichthyosaur and plesiosaur.

Plesiosaur fossilvia Field Museum

Lottie Dodwell, an interpretation developer at London’s Natural History Museum said in a press release, "I hope visitors will get to know some of the animals that dominated our oceans for 160 million years, and learn that dinosaurs weren’t the only impressive reptiles around in the Jurassic."

“We are thrilled to be working with the Field Museum for the launch of our exhibition," said Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, London.

Visitors can compare the skeletons and models of the ancient sea creatures to real marine life today. The exhibit will include real specimens of today's marine life, such as marine iguanas, crocodiles, sea snakes, water monitors, and sea turtles.

Bob Nicholls (2009) via Field Museum

"We’re excited to showcase these amazing encounters and let visitors experience the incredible diversity of the Jurassic oceans," said Emily Parr, the exhibition’s Project Manager at The Field Museum.

Visitors will be able to get up close and touch the textures of replicated sea creature skins and explore features of the creatures on interactive touchscreens. “People have always tried to imagine what ferocious beasts might lurk beneath the waves,” says Parr. “Through the exhibition, we’ll be able to show them the real monsters of the deep.”

Jurassic Oceans is a ticketed exhibit and will run in Chicago from February 25 to September 5. Admission requires the museum's All-Access Pass or a Discovery Pass. For all the details, check out The Field Museum's website.

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