Dinosaur Trail

A new, outdoor Dinosaur Trail permanent exhibit is now open at MDWFP's Mississippi Museum of Natural Science!

Family sits atop a green dinosaur sculpture

Class of children standing in front of dino exhibit

Explore the Museum's New Dinosaur Trail

Nestled along one of the museum's nature trails, the Dinosaur Trail features six large-scale, 3D dinosaur models, including a Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Chasmosaurus, Nodosaurus, Appalachiosaurus, and an Eotrachodon with nest and newly hatched babies.

Along the way, learn a fascinating fact about each dinosaur, as well as its height, length, weight, diet, and time period.

The Dinosaur Trail Project also includes several electric ride-on dinosaurs and "Blue"--a "dino-mite" large dinosaur costume that appears occasionally at the museum during special events.

The new trail officially opened on July 1, 2022, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the memory of the project's benefactor, Gerard “Jerry” Case, a long-time friend of the museum (see below). The museum and the Foundation are grateful for this gift and proud to recognize Mr. Case's achievements in the field of paleontology with this new Dinosaur Trail that will delight generations of museum visitors!

Plan Your Next Adventure

The Dinosaur Trail is included with MMNS Foundation Membership or the museum admission fee.
Plan to explore the new, state-of-the-art LeFleur’s Bluff Playground (no admission fee) during your museum visit, too.
Get more details about museum events, permanent exhibits, and special exhibits.
For museum hours and field trip and birthday party info, see Visitor Information.

About Gerard R. Case

Gerard Case with George and James Starnes of the Mississippi office of geology

(L-R) George Phillips, James Starnes, and Gerard R. Case, February 2019

Gerard Case with vertebrate paleontologist Don Baird of Princeton

Gerard R. Case (right) with vertebrate paleontologist Don Baird, 1972

Gerard R. Case with paleontologist Rainer Zangerl of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, early 1970s

Gerard R. Case with paleontologist Rainer Zangerl, early 1970s

Collecting the Judith river rattlesnake vicinity

Gerard R. Case with LeRoy and Lena Anderson and Pastor Ken Olson collecting the Judith River Fm., 1976

Gerald Case with illustrator friend Clifford Auguston

Gerard R. Case with lifelong friend and cartoonist/illustrator Clifford Augustson

A Passion for Paleontology

A veteran of the US Navy, Gerard “Jerry” Case was an artist, illustrator, and author who had a great passion for paleontology, resulting in an illustrious and prolific career in the field.

In all, Case named 180 fossil genera and species in well over one hundred publications, and at least a dozen species and one genus have been named in his honor.

In 1992, Case received the Paleontological Society’s Harrel L. Strimple Award, which is the highest honor for an avocational paleontologist.

In 2022, Pratt Institute, Case’s much-beloved alma mater, presented him with a Doctor of Liberal Arts (Honoris Causa) for his contributions to the arts and sciences.