Cranbrook Institute of Science hosting dinosaurs

Above: Stan, a 40-foot long Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton cast, is one of the largest and most complete T. rex specimens known, will be on display at the Cranbrook Institute of Science.

The Cranbrook Institute of Science will be traveling to prehistoric times to track the similarities between the extinction of the dinosaurs and the possibility of our own impending doom.

The exhibit, “Doom of the Dinosaurs: Are We Next?” runs from February 8 through September 1. Visitors can see fossil casts of the last known dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus rex and Edmontosaurus, and walk through the five large-scale mass extinctions that occurred over the last 500 million years. Facts and evidence will be presented to allow visitors to decide for themselves if we're in the midst of a mass extinction.

The cost to attend the exhibit is in addition to the general museum admission.

“The specimens in the exhibit will help visitors of all ages foster a deep appreciation for the natural history of Earth and see for themselves what the dinosaurs' world was like before they vanished,” said Michael Stafford, director of Cranbrook Institute of Science. “This is a must-see experience for families across Michigan. Based on the evidence in this exhibition we are challenging visitors to think critically about the future of our planet and if human activities will hasten the arrival of a sixth mass extinction.”

Specimens from the movie “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” will be on display. Guests also will learn about what led to the demise of trilobites, sea scorpions, proto-mammals, ancient coral reef dwellers, ancient sea life, armor plated fish, mastodons and other extinct animals tht once roamed Michigan.

Original dinosaur casts and fossils have been loaned to the Institute of Science from paleontologist John Hankla's private collection. Hankla is a research associate at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and adjunct curator at Cranbrook Institute of Science.