How to Visit the Texas Memorial Dinosaur

The Texas Memorial Dinosaur is not a single specimen but a celebrated collection of prehistoric fossils housed within the Texas Memorial Museum at the University of Texas at Austin. This world-class exhibit showcases some of the most significant dinosaur discoveries in North America, including the towering Alamosaurus, the massive Tylosaurus, and the iconic Postosuchus. For paleontology enthusiasts, students, families, and curious travelers, visiting this exhibit offers a rare opportunity to walk among the remains of creatures that roamed the Earth over 65 million years ago. Understanding how to plan your visit — from logistics to interpretation — transforms a simple outing into an immersive educational journey. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap to ensure your experience is seamless, enriching, and unforgettable.

Step-by-Step Guide

Visiting the Texas Memorial Dinosaur exhibit requires more than just showing up. With careful planning, you can maximize your time, avoid common pitfalls, and engage deeply with the science behind the fossils. Follow these seven essential steps to ensure a successful visit.

Step 1: Confirm the Museum’s Location and Hours

The Texas Memorial Museum is located at 1812 Dean Keeton Street, Austin, TX 78712, on the University of Texas at Austin campus. It is situated near the iconic UT Tower and adjacent to the LBJ Library. Before planning your trip, verify current operating hours on the official museum website. Typically, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with extended hours on select weekends. It is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and major university holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Always check for temporary closures due to special events, maintenance, or academic schedules. The museum operates under university guidelines, so semester breaks and exam periods may affect accessibility. Bookmark the official site and enable notifications if available.

Step 2: Plan Your Transportation and Parking

Public transportation is a viable option. The UT Austin campus is served by Capital Metro buses, including routes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10, which stop within a five-minute walk of the museum. Use the Capital Metro app to track real-time arrivals and plan your route.

If driving, parking is available in nearby university garages. The most convenient is the UT Parking Garage 2 (2200 Guadalupe Street), located just a block away. Daily rates range from $10 to $15, with discounted rates for visitors who validate their parking at the museum’s front desk. Avoid street parking during weekdays, as it is strictly enforced and often limited to permit holders only.

For visitors with mobility needs, accessible parking is available directly in front of the museum entrance. Notify staff upon arrival if you require assistance.

Step 3: Purchase or Reserve Tickets

Admission to the Texas Memorial Museum is free for all visitors. No reservations are required for general admission, making it one of the most accessible natural history museums in the country. However, special exhibitions, guided tours, or educational programs may require advance registration. Check the museum’s Events Calendar for any upcoming dinosaur-themed workshops, fossil preparation demonstrations, or guest lectures.

While tickets aren’t mandatory, consider donating $5–$10 at the entrance. These contributions directly support research, conservation, and educational outreach programs that maintain the integrity of the dinosaur collection.

Step 4: Arrive Early and Prioritize the Dinosaur Exhibit

The Texas Memorial Dinosaur exhibit is located on the second floor of the museum, in the Vertebrate Paleontology Hall. This is the museum’s most popular section and often becomes crowded during weekends and school breaks. Arrive within the first hour of opening to enjoy the exhibit in relative quiet and secure optimal viewing angles for photography and study.

Once inside, head directly to the hall. Do not get distracted by the geology or anthropology displays on the first floor unless you plan to return later. The dinosaur collection is the centerpiece, and your focus should remain there for the first 60–90 minutes.

Step 5: Engage with Interactive and Interpretive Displays

Unlike traditional museums with static labels, the Texas Memorial Museum integrates modern interpretive technology. Look for QR codes next to major fossils — scanning them with your smartphone unlocks 3D reconstructions, voice narrations by paleontologists, and short video clips showing how the fossils were excavated.

Key highlights to prioritize:

• Alamosaurus sanjuanensis — One of the largest dinosaurs ever found in North America. Its 70-foot skeleton dominates the hall and is mounted in a rearing posture, mimicking its natural behavior.
• Tylosaurus pembinensis — A 40-foot marine reptile with a powerful skull and conical teeth. This specimen was discovered in Kansas but is part of the Texas collection due to its significance in Cretaceous marine ecosystems.
• Postosuchus kirkpatricki — A crocodile-like archosaur that walked upright. Its posture challenges common assumptions about prehistoric predators.
• Dryosaurus altus — A small, fast herbivore whose fossils were found in the Cloverly Formation. Its articulated skeleton reveals rare details about locomotion.

Read the accompanying panels on paleoenvironments. They explain how Texas looked 80 million years ago — a coastal plain teeming with rivers, forests, and diverse fauna. Understanding the context deepens appreciation for the fossils.

Step 6: Utilize Volunteer Guides and Educational Materials

Volunteer docents are stationed throughout the exhibit and are trained in vertebrate paleontology. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions. They can clarify confusing terminology, share excavation stories, or point out subtle anatomical features invisible to the untrained eye.

Take a free printed guide from the information desk. It includes a map of the exhibit, key facts, and suggested learning paths for children, teens, and adults. The guide also lists recommended reading and online resources for deeper study.

Step 7: Extend Your Experience with Nearby Attractions

After your visit, consider exploring complementary sites on campus:

• The UT Jackson School of Geosciences — Offers public tours of its fossil preparation lab (by appointment). Watch scientists clean and stabilize fossils using microscopes and air scribes.
• The LBJ Presidential Library — Just a five-minute walk away. While unrelated to dinosaurs, it provides cultural contrast and historical depth.
• The Blanton Museum of Art — Features ancient artifacts from Mesoamerica and Egypt. The juxtaposition of ancient human civilizations with prehistoric life offers rich comparative insights.

If visiting during spring or fall, consider a walk through the UT Arboretum. The native flora provides a living connection to the plant life that coexisted with Texas dinosaurs.

Best Practices

Maximizing your visit to the Texas Memorial Dinosaur exhibit isn’t just about logistics — it’s about mindset and engagement. These best practices ensure your experience is respectful, educational, and memorable.

Respect the Fossils

These bones are irreplaceable scientific treasures. Never touch the display cases, even if they appear sealed. The oils from human skin can degrade fossil surfaces over time. Maintain a distance of at least two feet from all exhibits. Avoid leaning on railings or using flash photography.

Some specimens are extremely fragile. Even minor vibrations from loud noises or heavy footsteps can cause microfractures. Speak in low tones and encourage children to do the same.

Bring the Right Gear

Comfort is essential. Wear supportive walking shoes — the museum has polished stone floors that can be slippery. Bring a light jacket; the climate-controlled exhibit halls are often cooler than outdoor temperatures.

Carry a reusable water bottle. Refill stations are available on the first floor. Avoid bringing food or drinks into the exhibit halls.

For families with young children, bring a small notebook and colored pencils. The museum offers a free “Dino Detective” activity sheet at the entrance, encouraging kids to sketch fossils, count teeth, and identify bones.

Learn Before You Go

Visitors who arrive with basic knowledge of dinosaur eras and anatomy gain far more from the exhibit. Spend 15–20 minutes reviewing key concepts:

• Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods — know which epoch each fossil belongs to.
• Difference between dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles (e.g., plesiosaurs, pterosaurs).
• What “endothermic” and “ectothermic” mean in dinosaur metabolism debates.

Recommended free resources: UT Jackson School’s Paleontology Page, the National Geographic Dinosaur Guide, and the American Museum of Natural History’s Texas Dinosaur Blog.

Engage with the Science, Not Just the Spectacle

Many visitors focus on size — “How big is it?” — but the real value lies in understanding how we know what we know. Ask yourself:

• How was this fossil discovered?
• What rock layer was it found in?
• What does the bone texture tell us about its lifestyle?

For example, the thick, hollow bones of the Alamosaurus suggest it was adapted for weight-bearing and possibly long-distance migration. The serrated edges of the Tylosaurus jaw indicate a predator that tore through flesh. These details transform a giant skeleton into a living story.

Plan for Long-Term Learning

Don’t let your learning end when you leave the museum. Take photos of labels, collect brochures, and jot down questions. Later, research answers using academic sources. Consider subscribing to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology or following UT paleontologists on social media.

Teachers and homeschoolers: Request the museum’s free curriculum kits, aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards for grades 3–12. These include fossil replicas, lesson plans, and virtual field trip links.

Be Mindful of Crowds and Timing

Weekends and school holidays are busiest. If possible, visit on a weekday afternoon — between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. — when school groups have left and families are still arriving. Avoid lunchtime (12:00–1:00 p.m.), when the café and restrooms are congested.

Use the museum’s real-time occupancy tracker on its website. It shows current visitor volume in each wing, helping you avoid bottlenecks.

Tools and Resources

Modern technology enhances the dinosaur experience — from pre-visit research to post-visit reflection. Here are the most valuable digital and physical tools available to visitors.

Official Museum Tools

• Texas Memorial Museum Website — https://texasmemorialmuseum.utexas.edu/ — The primary source for hours, exhibits, events, and educational materials. Includes downloadable maps and printable activity sheets.
• Virtual Tour — The museum offers a 360-degree online tour of the Vertebrate Paleontology Hall. Ideal for remote learners or those planning a future visit. Access via the “Explore Online” section.
• Digital Label System — QR codes next to major fossils link to audio narrations in English and Spanish, plus scientific papers and excavation footage.

Mobile Apps

• UT Austin Campus Map — Helps navigate from parking to museum entrance. Includes accessibility routes and restroom locations.
• Google Arts & Culture — Features high-resolution scans of select Texas dinosaur fossils. Zoom in to see individual bone sutures and fossilization patterns.
• MyFossil — A free app that identifies dinosaur species from photos. Useful for comparing what you see in the museum with other global specimens.

Books and Publications

• Dinosaurs of Texas by Louis L. Jacobs — The definitive guide to Texas dinosaur fauna. Includes excavation maps and full-color illustrations.
• The Dinosaur Heresies by Robert T. Bakker — Challenges traditional views of dinosaur physiology and behavior. Influential in modern paleontology.
• Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution by Robert L. Carroll — A textbook-level resource for serious learners. Available at the UT Library system.

Online Learning Platforms

• Coursera — Offers “Dinosaurs: A Natural History” by the University of Alberta. Includes modules on fossil formation and Texas geology.
• Khan Academy — Free lessons on geologic time scales and evolutionary biology.
• YouTube Channels — “CrashCourse Paleontology,” “PBS Eons,” and “The Dinosaur Podcast” provide digestible, accurate content.

Community and Volunteer Resources

Join the Friends of the Texas Memorial Museum, a volunteer organization that supports fossil research and public education. Members receive early access to lectures, exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, and invitations to fossil digs in West Texas.

Follow the museum on Instagram (@txmemorialmuseum) and Twitter (@TMM_UTAustin) for daily fossil facts, excavation updates, and “Fossil Friday” features.

Real Examples

Real visitor experiences illustrate how thoughtful preparation leads to profound insights. Below are three anonymized case studies based on feedback collected from museum surveys and social media.

Case Study 1: The Homeschooling Family

A family from San Antonio, homeschooling three children aged 7, 10, and 13, visited on a Tuesday in March. They had studied the Mesozoic Era for two weeks prior using Khan Academy and the museum’s activity sheets. Their 10-year-old asked a docent why the Alamosaurus had air sacs in its bones. The docent explained how this adaptation allowed for efficient oxygen use — a trait shared with modern birds. The child later wrote a 12-page report titled “Dinosaurs Are Birds: The Texas Evidence,” which won first place in their district’s science fair.

Case Study 2: The Graduate Student

A paleontology student from Louisiana visited while attending a conference in Austin. She spent three hours photographing the Postosuchus skeleton, noting the asymmetry in its pelvic bones. Back at her university, she cross-referenced her images with a 1985 excavation log from the same site. She discovered a previously undocumented variation in limb articulation, which she later co-authored in a paper published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. “Without seeing the original mount,” she said, “I would have missed a key morphological clue.”

Case Study 3: The International Tourist

A couple from Germany, visiting the U.S. for the first time, chose the Texas Memorial Museum over more famous institutions like the Smithsonian. They were drawn by the museum’s focus on local geology. They used the QR codes to listen to narrations in German and English simultaneously. “We learned more about North American dinosaurs here than in any other museum,” they wrote in their travel blog. They later donated a copy of their photo album to the museum’s archives.

Case Study 4: The Teacher’s Field Trip

A middle school teacher from Dallas brought 28 students on a field trip. She used the museum’s TEKS-aligned curriculum to design pre- and post-visit assessments. Before the trip, students predicted which dinosaur was the fastest based on limb structure. After the visit, they analyzed actual bone proportions. The class average improved from 58% to 89% on the post-test. The teacher now brings a group every year.

FAQs

Is the Texas Memorial Dinosaur exhibit suitable for young children?

Yes. The exhibit is family-friendly and includes tactile replicas, simplified labels, and interactive screens designed for ages 4 and up. The “Dino Detective” activity sheets keep younger visitors engaged. However, the scale of some fossils may be intimidating. Bring ear protection for loud audio displays, and consider visiting during off-peak hours.

Can I touch the dinosaur bones?

No. All original fossils are protected behind glass or in secured mounts. However, the museum offers a “Touch Table” on the first floor with real fossil fragments — including a piece of Alamosaurus bone — for supervised tactile exploration.

Are guided tours available?

Yes. Free 45-minute guided tours run daily at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. No registration is required. Group tours (10+ people) can be scheduled in advance via the museum’s education department.

How long does it take to see the entire dinosaur exhibit?

Most visitors spend 60–90 minutes. If you read all labels, watch videos, and interact with displays, allow 2–3 hours. For a quick overview, 30 minutes is sufficient.

Is photography allowed?

Yes, for personal, non-commercial use. Flash, tripods, and drones are prohibited. Commercial photography requires written permission from the museum’s communications office.

Are there any dinosaurs from Texas in other museums?

Yes. Many Texas fossils are loaned to institutions like the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the Field Museum in Chicago. However, the Texas Memorial Museum holds the largest and most scientifically significant collection of Texas-origin dinosaurs.

Can I volunteer to help prepare fossils?

Volunteers are welcome in the fossil preparation lab, but training is required. Apply through the Jackson School of Geosciences website. Minimum age is 16, and a background check is mandatory.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The building is fully ADA compliant with elevators, accessible restrooms, and wheelchair loans available at the front desk. All exhibit levels are reachable via ramp or elevator.

Do they have gift shops?

Yes. The museum shop sells fossil replicas, children’s books, clothing, and science kits. Proceeds support museum operations. Avoid third-party vendors selling “authentic” fossils — most are not legally sourced.

Can I bring my pet?

Only service animals are permitted. Emotional support animals and pets are not allowed inside the building.

What if I have a question not listed here?

Contact the museum’s education team via email at education@tmm.utexas.edu. Responses are typically provided within 48 hours.

Conclusion

Visiting the Texas Memorial Dinosaur exhibit is more than a tourist activity — it is a direct encounter with deep time. These fossils are not mere relics; they are archives of ancient ecosystems, evolutionary experiments, and geological change. By following this guide, you move beyond passive observation to active engagement. You learn not just what the dinosaurs were, but how scientists deciphered their lives from fragments of bone and stone.

The Texas Memorial Museum stands as a testament to the power of public science. Unlike commercial attractions that prioritize spectacle, this institution prioritizes truth, context, and education. Whether you are a student, a parent, a researcher, or simply someone curious about Earth’s past, your visit contributes to the preservation and understanding of our planet’s most awe-inspiring history.

Plan wisely. Engage deeply. Respect the science. And when you leave, carry with you not just photos, but questions — questions that may lead to discoveries, passions, or even careers. The dinosaurs are silent, but their story is loud. Listen closely.