By Sarah Knight
Dinosaurs have long held a special fascination for young and old alike. Maybe it's because these massive beasts stretch our imaginations, give us new perspectives on time and space, and invite us to discover worlds very different from our own.
With the help of Klipsch loudspeakers, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis continues to peak society's interest in these amazing creatures with its $25 million "Dinosphere: Now You're in Their World" exhibit that showcases what life was like when these prehistoric giants ruled the Earth.
Dinosphere, the largest, most immersive display of real juvenile and family dinosaur fossils in the United States, uncovers the history of the Cretaceous Period with three dramatic reenactment scenes, unique hands-on activities and innovative dinosaur theories.
The exhibit's centerpiece is 'Bucky,' a teenage Tyrannosaurus rex, the first juvenile T. rex on permanent display in a museum. He is also the first T. rex in which a "furcula" or wishbone has been discovered. Other species inside Dinosphere include a family of duck-billed Hypacrosaurs, a rare Leptoceratops and a nearly complete Gorgosaurus skeleton. A cousin of the T. rex, this Gorgosaurus is one of the most complete ever found.
By resting the carefully prepared fossilized bones of each dinosaur on custom-constructed steel armatures, these ancient wonders have returned to their life-size state and inhabit an environment full of convincing vegetation and rock formations.
A high-impact 20-minute sound and light show accompanies the scenes, providing insight into a typical day of "dino-life." Several compact, indoor/outdoor Klipsch loudspeakers are hidden throughout the reenactments to deliver the voice narration and ambient sounds of each environment.
In the areas surrounding the main exhibit space, families can experiment and explore at various interactive learning stations as they search for clues about dinosaurs and how they lived and died. These learning stations, designed to encourage an interest in science, will include activities such as touching real fossils, piecing together dinosaur anatomy, and sniffing for T. rex's "dinner." The computer-based learning stations utilize powerful Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 multimedia systems for sound reinforcement.
With several Pteranodons, or "flying lizards" hanging overhead, a dinosaur-inspired mural and ambient cricket chirp sounds, even the exhibit's entryway is a captivating experience. Klipsch in-wall speakers are positioned along the entryway corridor in a left/right stereo configuration to begin transporting visitors from the 21st century back to the Cretaceous Period.
"Klipsch has a solid reputation for delivering some of the best loudspeakers available so we are excited to be using their products inside Dinosphere," said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. "Klipsch acoustic engineers are world-class and they will be fine-tuning the sound environment in the Dinosphere."
Because audio plays such an important role in this exhibit, the Children's Museum relied on two locally-based A/V specialists to bring the exhibit to life. Charles Shriner, owner of MCSD Studio, produced and mixed the soundtrack for this exhibit based on scientific research to ensure that the Dinosphere reflects current theories of how these animals sounded and what the Cretaceous world was like. Ted Gregorek, owner of All Systems Go, was responsible for installing the audio equipment and making sure that visitors receive the full dynamic impact of this one-of-a-kind exhibit.
"Dinosphere is an extraordinary education-oriented and scientific-focused learning experience that will enrich the lives of children and their families," said Fred Klipsch, chairman and owner of Klipsch Audio Technologies. "This exhibit employs cutting-edge A/V technologies that will make it one of the top dinosaur experiences in the world and Klipsch is honored to be a part of it."
Dinosaurs may have died out 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period, but their dynasty will certainly live on at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the largest children's museum in the United States. Make a point to come to Indianapolis, and experience this multi-sensory prehistoric adventure powered by Klipsch.