Paleontology – Kansas Children's Discovery Center

Discovery Center open Memorial Day for final day of Tiny Titans

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center will be open for special holiday hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, to celebrate the final day of its Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies exhibit. This will be your last chance to experience the exhibit before it is packed up and shipped out.

This remarkable, hands-on exhibition offers an astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all across the globe, in addition to great hands-on play experiences! Kids can dig for eggs, dress up like a parent dinosaur to brood their nest and feel the texture of dinosaur eggs. Cute babies and fun dinosaur facts will keep the whole family playing and learning.

Regular admission applies, which is $9 for children and adults, $8 for seniors and free for infants under 12 months and Discovery Center members. Admission also lets you play all day at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, with more than 15,000 square feet of indoor educational exhibits exploring science, careers, art, building and more, plus a 4.5-acre certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom.

Tiny Titans is part of Topeka Dino Days, a communitywide dinosaur exhibition that includes Dinosaurs Alive at the nearby Topeka Zoo (open through June 30) and Sue: The T-Rex Experience at the Great Overland Station (now closed). It also includes the Topeka Dino Days Base Camp at the Topeka Visitors Center, which closes on Memorial Day, as well.

The exhibit has been a great attraction for the Discovery Center, and was vital in helping attract a record single-day attendance of 1,152 visitors on March 17, 2022, during Topeka’s spring break week.

Tiny Titans is generously sponsored by the Topeka Lodging Association and Visit Topeka.

RELATED: Find out about the different families of dinosaurs on display at the Discovery Center here.

Why Oviraptors weren’t dinosaur egg thieves, just great mothers!

In this scene, set in Mongolia about 80 million years ago, a carnivorous oviraptoran dinosaur feeds its hungry nestlings. Paleontologists working in Mongolia have discovered the fossil remains of eggs and embryos, as well as adult Oviraptors sitting atop their nests of eggs. This evidence suggests that Oviraptors tended their eggs and perhaps their young, as well. Paleontologists do not know for certain if Oviraptors had feathers as this artist shows, but other aspects of their anatomy and behavior suggest a kinship with birds.

One of the featured dinosaurs in the Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies exhibit at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center is the Oviraptor, a Theropod whose name means “egg thief.”

That name is a misnomer, however.

Oviraptors were dubbed thieves when paleontologists found their fossilized remains laying on top of nests, leading them to conclude that the dinosaurs fed on the eggs of other creatures, such as the Protoceratops.

However, later studies of the nests uncovered the embryos inside the eggs to be oviraptorid, meaning the dinosaurs actually died guarding their own nests. Paleontologists have concluded that the Oviraptors likely died guarding their nests during sudden sandstorms or other natural disasters.

An Oviraptor skeleton also was found brooding a clutch of eggs just like a bird, providing evidence of bird-like behavior that draws a comparison between the Late Cretaceous Period dinosaur and its close avian relatives.

Visitors to Tiny Titans will be able to re-enact that parental care by dressing up like an Oviraptor and brooding their nest at the Discovery Center. They also will be able to see real fossilized Oviraptor eggs, as well as digging for them in one of our Dino Dig pits.

Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, open through May 30, 2022, is an interactive exhibition that offers an astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all across the globe, in addition to great hands-on play experiences! To help celebrate the Oviraptor and all the other great mothers out there, all mothers will receive half-priced admission to the Discovery Center for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, 2022, when it is open from noon to 5 p.m. Stop in and learn more about this maternal dinosaur while you can!

RELATED: Find out about the different families of dinosaurs on display at the Discovery Center here.

Unraveling the Enigma of Therizinosaurs at Tiny Titans!

Kids can dig for eggs, dress up like a parent dinosaur to brood their nest, and feel the texture of dinosaur eggs. Cute babies and fun dinosaur facts will keep the whole family playing and learning. The exhibit is divided into four sections based on the different families of dinosaurs: Ceratopsians, Sauropods, Theropods and Ornithopods, with some special featured dinosaurs within the exhibits, as well. Each space provides visitors with a bevy of interesting information and activities about that particular type of dinosaur.

What are Therizinosaurs?

One of the features in the Theropod section is called The Enigma and focuses on Therizinosaurs, a subgroup of Theropods that likely ate plants and didn’t quite fit the mold of a typical Theropod. They had big bellies and short legs, probably walking on their hind legs, with huge claws on their forelimbs that earned them the nickname of the “Edward Scissorhands Dinosaur.” However, the claws were not sharp and were probably used in foraging and grasping plant material.

• Therizinosaurs were generally large, waddling creatures that laid relatively tiny eggs.

• They could reach sizes well over 1 ton.

• Their eggs could fit in the palm of your hand.

What do kids learn about Therizinosaurs?

• Learn about how their tiny, leaf-shaped teeth compared to other primitive dinosaurs.

• Learn how paleo-technician Terry Manning used acid to remove the outer layer of a fossilized egg shell.

• Find out why this dinosaur is so puzzling to paleontologists.

MORE DINO INFO: Find out more about the Ceratopsians here.

Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies is a traveling exhibit series created by Silver Plume Exhibitions and featuring artwork from Luis V. Rey and Mark Hallet, as well as stunning photography by Louie Pshioyos. The exhibit is generously sponsored locally by the Topeka Lodging Association and Visit Topeka, Inc. Tiny Titans will be on display at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center from February 24 to May 30, 2022, and is included in regular admission.

Handmade dinosaur play table adds splash of color, fun for Topeka Dino Days

From left, Maya Beyer and Draque Carver show off a dinosaur table that they collaborated on creating for the main floor of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center for Topeka Dino Days and the unveiling of the Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies exhibit at the Discovery Center.

It’s been just over a month since Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies opened at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, and the response has been terrific!

Along with the exhibit, which is located in the multimedia gallery, several new dino-themed features were added to the main floor of the Discovery Center, as well. One of those additions – a long, wooden table with a built-in landscape and a painted mural as the background – was created by a pair of employees with a flair for artistic expression.

Maya Beyer, a part-time gallery assistant and student at Johnson County Community College, teamed up with Draque Carver, who has worked for the Discovery Center since 2014 as the exhibit and facilities maintenance manager, to create the popular attraction.

Beyer was commissioned by the Discovery Center to paint the mural, a process that took between 16 and 20 hours to complete. Carver then created the table out of wood and built a colorful landscape for the dinosaur toys to stomp around on.

“I was so thrilled when KCDC asked me to paint for them,” Beyer said. “It’s an honor to have my work featured in the museum. My mural is a landscape that guests can interact with.”

According to Dr. Rachel E. White, playing with objects such as toy dinosaurs gives children a chance to practice both fine and gross motor skills, depending on the size of the objects. It also contributes to cognitive development, including learning about the nature of objects, problem-solving, creativity and foundational skills for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The table is located near the art pavilion at the back of the Discovery Center.

Exploring the Ornithopods in Tiny Titans!

Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, open until May 30, 2022, at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, is an interactive exhibition that offers an astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all across the globe, in addition to great hands-on play experiences! Kids can dig for eggs, dress up like a parent dinosaur to brood their nest, and feel the texture of dinosaur eggs. Cute babies and fun dinosaur facts will keep the whole family playing and learning. The exhibit is divided into four sections based on the different families of dinosaurs: Ceratopsians, Sauropods, Theropods and Ornithopods. Each space provides visitors with a bevy of interesting information and activities about that particular type of dinosaur.

Exploring the Sauropods in Tiny Titans!

What are Sauropods?

Sauropod (SAWR-o-pod) means “Lizard Footed” and is made up of a herbivorous group of long-necked dinosaurs that had small heads with a small brain and long tail.

• Sauropods were the physically largest group of dinosaurs.

• Sauropods were probably precocial — meaning they were ready to fend for themselves when they hatched. There are a few likely reasons for this: parents were enormous compared to their babies and it would have been hard for parents to see them.

• Tracks show juveniles were half-grown before they joined the herd.

What can kids do at the Sauropod section in Tiny Titans?

• Dig for Sauropod eggs in a Dino Dig pit.

• See real fossilized Sauropod eggs.

• See and touch egg structure models of Sauropod eggs and see how the baby dinosaurs fit inside the eggs.

• See a magnified view of Titanosaur embryo skin.

• See a magnified view of a Sauropod eggshell.

• Compare dinosaur eggs to modern bird eggs, such as chicken, ostrich and hummingbird eggs.

What do kids learn at the Ceratopsian section in Tiny Titans?

• Some Sauropod eggs, like those found in the Patagonian Desert, had thick shells, while other Sauropod eggs found in France, Argentina and India had thin shells. The exhibit shows eggs of varying shapes and sizes. When children compare and contrast they are learning to observe, classify and describe objects — all critical skills for learning science and math.

• The exhibit’s touchable fossil replicas and dig pits let children use their sense of touch to explore. Sensory play that lets children touch, squeeze, smell and feel helps build connections in the brain.

• Which came first: the dinosaur or the egg? Find out at Tiny Titans!

• Sauropods grew to huge sizes during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. One species, the Argentinosaurus, grew up to 130 feet in length and is considered the longest and heaviest land animal of all time.

• Sauropods have been found on every continent, including Antarctica.

MORE DINO INFO: Find out more about the Theropods here.

Tiny Titans Opens at the Discovery Center!

Something big has hatched at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center!

Topeka’s nonprofit children’s museum opened its newest exhibit, Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, to the public on Feb. 24 with a morning reception featuring local community stakeholders and donors, including the exhibit’s two generous sponsors, the Topeka Lodging Association and Visit Topeka. Traveling exhibits like Tiny Titans are possible only with the support of generous community sponsors.

The opening reception featured a banner unveiling led by exhibit sponsors. Excited visitors of all ages counted down to the unveiling and welcomed the opening with a giant dinosaur roar led by Discovery Center president/CEO Dene’ Mosier.

Also in attendance for the opening reception were Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Rogers, Topeka City Councilman Spencer Duncan, Matt Pivarnik from the Greater Topeka Partnership and other team members on the Topeka Dino Days campaign, including representatives from the Topeka Zoo, cohort.digital and Sprout Creative.

This remarkable, interactive exhibition offers an astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all across the globe, in addition to great hands-on play experiences! Kids can dig for eggs, dress up like a parent dinosaur to brood their nest, and feel the texture of dinosaur eggs. Cute babies and fun dinosaur facts will keep the whole family playing and learning.

Tiny Titans includes:

Real eggs and nests
Touchable replica eggs from each dinosaur group
A dress-up area with Oviraptor nests and costumes
A reading area
Touchable fossil leg bone
Build-a-bone puzzle
Dig pits
Jurassic Play Land
Photographs and artwork of dinosaurs with informative panels
Embryo sculptures for each dinosaur group
A life-sized, interactive baby triceratops sculpture

Tiny Titans is a part of the four-month-long, community-wide Topeka Dino Days celebration, which includes other dinosaur-themed exhibits from across the city: SUE: The T-Rex Experience at the Great Overland Station, open Feb. 4 to May 1, 2022; Topeka Dino Days Base Camp at the Downtown Topeka Visitors Center, open Feb. 24 to May 30, 2022; and Dinosaurs Alive! at the Topeka Zoo, open March 10 to June 30. Several businesses around town have also offered specials, merchandise and events to help celebrate Topeka Dino Days.