Prehistoric Creatures To Roam In Golden Gate Park

It will be a trek back in time for visitors to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park starting this week as the public will be met by the newest exhibit, Plantosaurus Rex.

The exhibit will take visitors on a journey along the timeline of plant evolution during the Mesozoic Era (approximately 250-65 million years ago) and how dinosaurs both evolved with plant life and survived after the breakup of the barren supercontinent Panagea.

The exhibit features replica dinosaurs, including a giant Tyrannosaurus rex with its head bursting out of the roof of the building.

Each of the three periods during the Mesozoic Era will be explained: the Triassic Period, which was marked by major extinction events as animals clung to the sparse vegetation that was available. The Jurassic Period, also known as the “Age of Reptiles,” was the heyday for dinosaurs and plants made it possible for them not only to survive, but thrive. The final section looks at the Cretaceous Period, where dinosaurs continued to evolve, especially due to the emergence of angiosperms or flowering plants.

Plantosaurus Rex is open Tuesdays-Sundays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and is included with admission to the Conservatory. Admission for San Francisco residents is $5 general, $3 for youth 12-17, seniors and students with ID, $1.50 for children 5-11 and free for children 4 and under. Admission for non-residents is $7 general, $5 youth 12-17, seniors and students with ID, $2 children 5-11 and free for children 4 and under.

There are also guided tours available on most days.  The exhibit runs through October 21.

Photo Credit: Conservatory of Flowers

It's simple. Keith Mizuguchi loves to write and write and write some more. After taking a hiatus from the journalism business, he has rekindled his passion for writing over the last two years, holding a job as both a web and on-air writer for San Francisco news radio station KCBS. While he enjoys the news business, his true passions are twofold: sports and food. Bay Area born and raised, he lives in San Jose, commutes to SF and loves every minute of it. You can follow his food adventures on Twitter @foodie_keith.