Explore a Near‑Complete T. rex Fossil at the Perot Museum

Did you know that a near‑complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, famously known as Stan, sold for a record $31.8 million at auction? Discovered in 1987 outside Buffalo, South Dakota, Stan ranks among the most complete T. rex specimens ever unearthed.

Although $32 million exceeds most budgets, you don’t need to be a billionaire to experience a T. rex up close. A visit to the recently reopened Perot Museum of Nature and Science brings the giant into your living room.

On Level 4 of the Perot Museum, the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall showcases towering dinosaurs, rare fossils, and immersive virtual paleo‑habitats, offering an intimate glimpse into the age when dinosaurs reigned.

Cast displays of prehistoric giants—including the colossal Alamosaurus, the marine Tylosaurus, and the museum‑discovered Pachyrhinosaurus perotorum—populate the hall.

And of course, the legendary “king of the tyrant lizards,” the Tyrannosaurus rex remains the star attraction.

For a dash of adrenaline, race a digital T. rex in the Lamar Hunt Family Sports Hall and challenge your survival instincts—spoiler: you’re unlikely to beat the predator.

Step into the Paleo Lab to witness live fossil‑processing from field‑to‑display. Perot scientists have unveiled major finds here, such as the polar tyrannosaur Nanuqsaurus hoglundi, which proudly greets visitors from the lab’s summit.

Hours: Wednesday‑Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Monday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Ticket prices: $20 adults (13‑64), $13 youth (2‑12), $18 seniors (65+). All tickets are sold online in advance and are timed to adhere to COVID‑19 capacity protocols. For the latest health guidelines and current exhibit closures, please visit the museum’s official website.