The Dinosaur Museum News

Two new books on the world famous Jurassic Coast will have everyone out and about exploring the beauty and wonders of the 95 miles of fabulous coastline. Robert Westwood is the author of both books that feature up to 20 walks and over 100 photographs and illustrations covering this stunning geologically unique area. On Thursday 3rd June between 11am and 1pm Robert Westwood will be signing copies of both books in the award winning Dinosaur Museum. Continue Reading…

‘Museums at Night’ is coming to Dorchester in a big way on Saturday 15th May. The historic county town of Dorset boasts no fewer than six superb museums and this Museums Night will see all six museums open from 5pm to 9pm. Added to that there is a special ticket for that evening only of just £6 for admission to all six museums.
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National book launch at the Dinosaur Museum, Wednesday 14th April 11AM to 12.30PM

Come and meet Ron Dawson, author of “Scary Bones the Skeleton Meets the Dinosaur of the Jurassic Coast”. Ron will be pleased to sign copies of his new book for his fans.

/illustration by Sue Burleigh/

The Easter Egg Hunt with a difference is being held at the Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester over the Easter weekend. The all new Great Dinosaur Easter Egg Hunt involves children in actually hunting throughout the museum to spot the dinosaur eggs on display. As well as this, children have to discover the answers to various clues in the Dinosaur Mystery and whilst seeking out the museum’s dinosaur eggs.
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The Dinosaur Museum is open  most days of the Christmas and New Year holidays. It is open daily up until, and including, Wednesday 23rd December. The Musem is then closed from 24th to 26th December inclusive. The Dinosaur Museum reopens on Sunday 27th December and is then open daily including Bank Holiday Monday and New Year’s Day for the rest of the festive break. Opening times are from 10am to 4.30pm. The Museum is in the centre of historic Dorchester a gateway town to the Jurassic Coast.

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The award winning Dinosaur Museum has launched a new competition in conjunction with Dorling Kindersley the publisher of superb children’s books. During October visitors to the museum can enter the competition for the chance of winning a fantastic prize.
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August Bank Holiday weekend means the Great Dinosaur Hunt is happening at the award winning Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester. The event involves the whole museum and lets children explore and search out the answers to the clues of the dinosaur mystery. The Great Dinosaur Hunt starts on Saturday 29 August and ends on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August.
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Visitors to Dorchester’s award winning Dinosaur Museum were thrilled to meet bestselling novelist Tracy Chevalier when she launched her new book Remarkable Creatures at the Museum on Tuesday 25th August.

Tracy, whose best-selling novel Girl with a Pearl Earring became an equally popular film spends a lot of her time in Dorset. Inspiration for her books often comes quite unexpectedly, in the case of the Girl with a Pearl Earring it was from one of Vermeer’s paintings, while her latest book, Remarkable Creatures was inspired by a trip to the Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester. 

“There was a gallery devoted to Mary Anning, who I’d never heard of. I was immediately drawn in, says Chevalier, “I always have Continue Reading…

Best selling author of the ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, Tracy Chevalier was inspired to write her new novel ‘Remarkable Creatures’ during a visit to the Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester. Her latest novel focuses on the story of Mary Anning – a fossil hunter from Lyme Regis who lived in the early part of the 19th century. She was very much a woman in a man’s world, but despite this discovered the first complete skeleton of an ichthyosaur at the age of 11.
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The Dinosaur Museum celebrated its 25th birthday on Saturday 27th June. The day was a great success with many new and old friends visiting the Museum to mark the occasion.

Best selling dinosaur author and expert Dougal Dixon pictured here, cuts the ribbon, symbolically launching The Dinosaur Museum on its next 25 Years. Also pictured: Tim Batty, the museum curator and Jackie Ridley, the director of the museum.