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Museum Director Dr. Robert Breunig commented, "MNA is incredibly excited and proud to present this major new exhibition featuring a significant paleontological discovery by the Museum's scientists. This unique dinosaur and the information that comes from it adds greatly to our knowledge and understandings of life in the distant past. The exhibit highlights and celebrates the importance of basic research and the knowledge and insights that flow from that research." He continued, "Visitors will learn about the life and death of an amazing animal from the Cretaceous Period in the Age of Dinosaurs. We have a dinosaur new to science, related to birds, but thoroughly different from most animals known. Trying to envision how it lived and died takes us back in time and deep into the story of how the earth and life upon it evolved." The subject comes to life through scientific illustrations throughout MNA's exhibit. Artist and Guest Curator Victor Leshyk's remarkable ability to portray complicated anatomical details, prehistoric animals, and landscapes from another time gives visitors of all ages easy access to the science, as well as the dramatic life and death struggles of this ancient creature. Giant predatory reptiles called plesiosaurs terrorized the Cretaceous seas. MNA has excavated plesiosaur skeletons from the same seabeds. These ambush predators had torpedo-shaped bodies streamlined for speed and power, with paddles for limbs and strong, piercing teeth. The exhibit explores the swimming habits of these ancient marine predators through a robotic sculpture created by artists Brian and Eric Gold. The Museum of Northern Arizona is one of the great regional museums of our world, surrounded by tremendous geological, biological, and cultural resources in one of Earth's most spectacular landscapes. With a long and illustrious history, MNA evokes the very spirit of the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon and Four Corners regions, inspiring a sense of love and responsibility for the beauty and diversity of the area. MNA is located three miles north of historic downtown Flagstaff on Highway 180 and is open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is $7 adult, $6 senior (65+), $5 student, $4 child (7–17), and free to members. More information is available at www.musnaz.org and 928-774-5213. Therizinosaur Exhibit Guided Gallery Tours Saturdays, September 22–December 29 (except October 27.) 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 2:00–3:00 p.m. Explore the mystery of how a 93-million-year-old land-living dinosaur that came to be buried 60 miles out at sea. Tours begin from the Museum foyer and are appropriate for all ages. Gallery tours are included with Museum admission and reservations are not required. 
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