A New Reign Begins in 2027
Hartford, CT – Long before it was our world, it was theirs. A world ruled by giants, where powerful predators stalked ancient landscapes, winged reptiles soared overhead, and enormous creatures lurked beneath the water.
Now, that lost world is preparing to rise again.
The Connecticut Science Center today announced plans for Dinosaurs: Reign of Giants™, an ambitious new exhibition presented by the Liberty Bank Foundation and anticipated to open in the second quarter of 2027. Designed to transport visitors millions of years into the past, the exhibition will combine elaborate environments, lifelike prehistoric creatures, and hands-on discoveries in an immersive experience unlike anything the Science Center has created before.
Across seven distinct scenes, visitors will journey through lush landscapes populated by creatures both familiar and unexpected. Rather than presenting dinosaurs as isolated displays, the experience will place these animals within the environments they inhabited, bringing their ancient world to life through scientific discovery and immersive storytelling.
The exhibition will feature more than a dozen full-sized, scientifically informed robotic creatures, handcrafted by Dino Don, Inc. Among them will be Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Dilophosaurus, and Parasaurolophus, along with the flying reptile Nyctosaurus. Visitors will also encounter Deinosuchus, a massive crocodile-like predator that inhabited ancient waterways, a climbable Ankylosaurus, and other fascinating prehistoric animals.
Connecticut has its own dinosaur story to tell. Approximately 200 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed what would become the Connecticut River Valley, leaving behind footprints preserved in stone. Visitors will have a special opportunity to touch an authentic footprint fossil discovered in Connecticut, creating a tangible connection to our state's prehistoric past.
The journey will build toward a dramatic final scene, aptly titled “Reign of Giants,” where visitors will come face-to face with some of the most imposing creatures ever to walk the Earth. What awaits them in those final moments remains a closely guarded secret, with more details to be revealed as the 2027 opening approaches.
"When we've hosted traveling exhibits about dinosaurs, they've been very popular," said Matt Fleury, President and CEO of the Connecticut Science Center. "Now, we're taking everything people love about dinosaurs, their incredible size, their mystery, their power, and combining it with the latest science and immersive storytelling to surprise and inspire visitors of all ages."
The exhibition represents a major milestone for the Connecticut Science Center. Dinosaurs: Reign of Giants™ will be the largest Science Center-created and branded exhibition in the organization's history, building on its commitment to developing original experiences that make science accessible, engaging, and relevant to visitors of all ages.
FROM JURASSIC PARK TO HARTFORD
Helping bring this vision to life is Dino Don, Inc., founded by internationally recognized dinosaur expert Don Lessem, who served as a scientific advisor to Steven Spielberg on the original Jurassic Park film. With decades of experience creating dinosaur exhibitions and lifelike prehistoric creatures, Dino Don brings paleontological expertise, advanced technology, and specialized fabrication to the project.
"We're thrilled to contribute to the most realistic and detailed depiction ever presented of the world of the last dinosaurs," said Don Lessem, Founder of Dino Don, Inc.
A PARTNERSHIP MAKING DISCOVERY POSSIBLE
As Presenting Sponsor, Liberty Bank Foundation is providing significant support for Dinosaurs: Reign of Giants™, helping the Connecticut Science Center inspire curiosity, discovery, and a lifelong interest in science.
"At Liberty Bank, we believe that investing in education and inspiring curiosity in young people is an investment in the future of our communities," said David W. Glidden, President and CEO of Liberty Bank, President of the Liberty Bank Foundation, and Chair of the Connecticut Science Center's Board of Trustees. "We are proud that the Liberty Bank Foundation is helping bring Dinosaurs: Reign of Giants™ to life at the Connecticut Science Center. This extraordinary exhibition will spark imagination, make science exciting and accessible, and inspire the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers."
THE COUNTDOWN TO A NEW REIGN BEGINS
Today's announcement marks the launch of the exhibition campaign, offering the public its first glimpse of what's taking shape. As the 2027 opening approaches, the Science Center will share additional details, giving visitors a closer look at the experience ahead.
Follow the journey at WhenDinosaursRuledTheEarth.org.
About the Connecticut Science Center:
Located in downtown Hartford, the LEED Gold-certified Connecticut Science Center inspires curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of science through hands-on experiences for visitors of all ages. Home to more than 165 interactive exhibits, the Science Center explores topics including space, earth sciences, biology, and Connecticut’s legacy of innovation, along with a year-round butterfly habitat, a giant-screen theater, and dynamic learning labs. As a nonprofit organization, the Connecticut Science Center advances science literacy and workforce development across Connecticut and New England through engaging programs for students, families, educators, and professionals. For more information, visit CTScienceCenter.org or call (860) SCIENCE.