A Journey Through Time: Elena's First Dinosaur Adventure

The Royal Tyrrell Museum has always held a special place in my heart. When I was growing up, my family would go to the Badlands almost every year, and a visit to the dinosaur museum was always the highlight of our trips. Like so many kids, I wanted to be a paleontologist—who wouldn't want to be a Doctor of Dinosaurs? Over the years, my interests have changed, but my fascination with prehistoric life has never faded. These days, my favourite "dinosaur" isn't actually a dinosaur at all—it's the Dimetrodon. My focus has shifted towards early synapsid diversification, but the sense of wonder I feel for all things prehistoric remains the same.

We would visit the museum so often that I knew the place like the back of my hand. Walking through those familiar halls, now with Elena by my side, felt like a beautiful full-circle moment. I couldn't wait to see her reaction to the dinosaurs, and to share a place that meant so much to me with her.

The Anticipation Builds

Before we got there, I was a little anxious. Drumheller is full of dinosaur statues, but they're not exactly realistic. I didn't want Elena's first life-sized dinosaur encounter to be one of those cartoonish statues. I wanted her first real look at a dinosaur to be something truly awe-inspiring. Thankfully, she was dozing pretty well during the drive, and by the time we reached the museum, she hadn't seen any of the statues—nothing to spoil the big moment.

The day before, we visited the Calgary Zoo, and Elena had an incredible time seeing the hippopotamus and giraffes for the first time. Though even then, she couldn't stop talking about the dinosaurs she was going to see—she was absolutely brimming with excitement. When we finally arrived at the museum, I asked, "Who’s ready for dinosaurs?" Of course, she was already bursting with excitement, and as we stepped out of the car, her eyes lit up even more, shining with wonder.

First Encounters: The Pachyrhinosaurus

In front of the museum were the Pachyrhinosaurus statues, which were the first thing we saw. Of course, Elena couldn't be stopped from climbing on them—a recurring theme for the rest of the visit. After all, who would want to just touch with their eyes if they could put their butt on it?

So, after much clambering on the baby Pachyrhinosaurus, and capturing some great pictures in the golden October light, we finally made our way inside. We paid up, and were ready to begin our journey through the history of life.

Inside the Museum: Awe and Exploration

My wife Nathalia was, of course, just as enthusiastic. We've always been museum people—no matter where we travel, we always manage to visit a museum or two. And there, in the first room of the museum, we saw the Albertosaurus for the first time. Elena didn't quite understand what she was seeing at first, but when she finally looked up and took it all in, she was blown away by just how enormous they were.

Right after that, of course, we moved into the section with the more traditional displays—the ones meant for the grownups. They had a lot of reading, and were a bit too much for a three-year-old to grasp. Normally, this is one of my favourite parts of the museum because it's where they showcase all the new specimens. But this time, I was glad to get through it quickly. Today was all about Elena's experience, and I didn't want anything to dampen her enthusiasm.

We got through the Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian displays pretty quickly (though the Ediacaran fauna they have on display is really worth a closer look). The same went for the Ordovician and Silurian sections—lots of water bugs and squishy worms that didn't hold Elena's attention for long. Then we reached the Dunkleosteus skull, which is definitely a showstopper. We had to stop and touch it, imagining what it would be like to come across such a fearsome fish in the wild. But overall, it wasn't until we got to the Permian period that Elena really found her footing.

We did get a bit of a talking to about touching the Dimetrodons—but honestly, they're my favorite "dinosaurs" for a reason, and it's hard to resist them!

The Rest Area and the Bronze Albertosaurus

Before we headed into the main hall and the Mesozoic era, there was a new rest area where we actually got to touch the displays! There was a bronze cast of an Albertosaurus that a friendly elderly museum guide explained was designed to last longer than any of us, specifically so that everyone could touch it. Of course, no one seemed to be doing that—except us. Putting my fingers between the teeth made me realize just how brilliant these animals would have been at tearing things apart. There is a perfect synergy between the shape of a bone and the serrated teeth of this great predator. Terrifying, even if long dead and now cast in bronze. Elena got to hold hands with this tyrannosaurid, and she also touched the tongue on a fleshier statue nearby—this was one of the highlights she keeps talking about.

The Main Hall: Mesozoic Madness

Then it was off to the main hall and the Mesozoic era, and this was where things got pretty wild. Nathalia decided to have a sit-down while I chased Elena around, trying to keep us focused and making sure she stayed on the right side of the fence. At one point, I literally had to grab her by the leg as she tried to clamber up onto one of the displays.

My favorite moment from this section was when she stood next to the giant leg bones of a Camarasaurus. There's just one display that features a massive sauropod leg you can stand beside, and seeing Elena standing there, dwarfed by this enormous bone, was incredible. She looked up in sheer awe, and you could almost see her trying to comprehend just how gigantic these creatures were.

And then, of course, we got to the giant Tyrannosaurus rex. Elena was in absolute awe of it—nothing really prepares you for the sheer size and power of a Tyrannosaurus rex. Even now, having seen it dozens of times over the years, I still get a sense of awe and wonder seeing it. There's something about that towering predator that makes you feel insignificant, and seeing Elena's wonder only added to the magic of the moment.

Wrapping Up: The Cenozoic and Souvenirs

And that's it. We made it through the Cenozoic pretty quickly, taking in the displays of ancient mammals, giant birds, and early primates. Though it was a bit rushed, Elena's excitement never waned, and she was eager to see what was next. We ended our visit by picking out matching t-shirts at the gift shop—something that she was incredibly proud of. Ever since that day, she hasn’t stopped talking about the museum, recalling the strangest details with the kind of joy only a three-year-old can have.

Reflections

Reflecting on our visit, I can't help but feel that this might have been the most memorable visit to the Tyrrell in all these years. It wasn't just another trip—this was the first time I got to share my lifelong love of natural history with my daughter. It was clear that this experience left a lasting impression not just on Elena, but on all of us. Seeing the museum through her eyes brought a new sense of wonder to a place I'd visited countless times before. It reminded me of the magic that these kinds of experiences can hold, especially when shared with those we love. Watching her light up at each new discovery, feeling her small hand in mine as she fearlessly touched the exhibits, and hearing her enthusiastic questions—all of it made me realize just how powerful these moments of learning and exploration are.

Nathalia and I have always loved museums, but sharing that love with Elena added a whole new layer of meaning. The way she connected with the exhibits—whether it was touching the bronze Albertosaurus or standing next to the towering Camarasaurus—was something truly special. This visit wasn’t just about seeing dinosaurs; it was about creating memories, sparking curiosity, and laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and exploration.