My kids love studying animals and dinosaurs so much that they have, possibly, read every book on them that is housed in their school library. So, of course, a trip to the Sam Noble Museum in Norman was a hit! We explored every nook and cranny to help you know what to expect when you visit.
Make sure to grab a scavenger hunt from the information desk. The clues kept my kids captivated as they darted around the exhibits reading the descriptions. And, as we were leaving, they were able to turn them in completed for a small prize.
As soon as you pass through the doors behind the information booth, you’ll be looking right at the face of the world’s tallest dinosaur, the Sauroposeidon proteles. The 40-foot-long neck and skull peek into the museum’s Great Hall to greet visitors. It felt like it was saying, “hey friends! How ya’ doin?”
The Hall of Ancient Life is where the dinosaur-lovers might have to pick their jaws up off the floor. Around every corner there are different skeletons to check out, many of which have ties to Oklahoma. The detailed dioramas and descriptions help everyone to understand what they’re seeing and how it fits into Oklahoma’s prehistoric history.
Make sure to go upstairs to explore the Hall of Natural Wonders (and admire the huge mammoth sculpture on your way). It is full of immersive dioramas that are hugely intricate and display many of the different habitats that make up Oklahoma’s biodiversity. By design, these displays make you feel like you’re truly a part of it all – there are tree branches overhead and you can hear the sound of birdsong and rushing water as you learn about all the different animals. My favorite was the bison!
BONUS: Sam Noble has STEM boxes for sale in the museum store that contain step-by-step instructions and supplies for two at-home projects. Your young scientists can choose from either Fantastic Fossils or Get Growing.
Emiley Bainbridge is the editorial assistant at MetroFamily Magazine. She’s married to Russ and the mom of Olivia and Nicholas. She’s passionate about her family, Oklahoma and baked goods and enjoys reading, musical theater and dance parties.
