The counselor for Educational Development and Vocational Training and president of the Parque de las Ciencias Consortium, María del Carmen Castillo, inaugurated the new temporary exhibition ‘Dragon Hunters’ at the Milky Way Pavilion of the Parque de las Ciencias in Granada. This production, a joint effort of Parque de las Ciencias (Andalusia-Granada) and the Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid, will be open to visitors until January 11, 2026. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the history of dinosaur research, highlighting key milestones in Paleontology, their historical context, and the people who played significant roles in these discoveries.
During her speech, Castillo drew parallels between the work of scientists and educators, emphasizing how both fields rely on trial and error to progress. She noted, «In the history of education, much like in science, we constantly rethink our approaches as we realize that some methods may not be the most effective and require reevaluation.»
Castillo also reminisced about the success of previous dinosaur exhibitions at Parque de las Ciencias, such as ‘Carnivorous Dinosaurs’ from the Natural History Museum in London and ‘Tyrannosaurus Rex: Hunter or Scavenger?’ These exhibitions helped dispel the mythical image of dinosaurs portrayed in literature like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Lost World,’ providing scientific evidence for their existence. As part of its 30th-anniversary celebrations, Parque de las Ciencias now presents ‘Dragon Hunters,’ its third temporary exhibition on dinosaurs.
Inspired by the book ‘Dragon Hunters: A History of Dinosaur Discovery and Research’ by José Luis Sanz, one of the exhibition’s curators, this production delves into the captivating story of uncovering the ancient past through dinosaur fossils. Enrique Baquedano, director of the Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid, collaborated with Parque de las Ciencias to develop this exhibition, recognizing the institution as a leader in scientific outreach. Baquedano praised the exhibition’s educational value and predicted its success as a fun and informative experience.
Luis Alcalá, director of Parque de las Ciencias, described ‘Dragon Hunters’ as an exhibition with substance and knowledge, surpassing mere spectacle and entertainment. He announced that the recently installed Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton will remain a permanent fixture at the museum, welcoming thousands of visitors, including nearly 24,000 during the Andalusia Day holiday.
Paleontologist Francisco Ortega, co-curator of the exhibition with José Luis Sanz, highlighted the evolving approaches of paleontologists throughout history in understanding dinosaurs through the scientific method. The exhibition includes a collection of significant elements from Spanish Paleontology, aligning with historical milestones in the field and enhancing the narrative of the exhibition.
800 m2 Journey into the World of Dinosaurs
‘Dragon Hunters’ spans 800 square meters across both floors of the Milky Way Pavilion. This diverse exhibition features original fossils, replicas, models, photographs, audiovisuals, reproductions, and a didactic workshop catering to both school groups and the general public. It traces the history of dinosaur research through key milestones, historical context, and the individuals who shaped this field in three areas: mythological dinosaurology, dinosaurs in Paleontology, and recreating a scientific excavation. From early interpretations of dinosaur bone discoveries to today’s virtual paleontology, the exhibition showcases how scientific findings and research have transformed our understanding of dinosaurs over time.
The exhibition explores significant historical events such as Victorian England, expeditions in the American West, the Gobi Desert, Tanzania, and Patagonia, shedding light on why dinosaurs have become ingrained in popular culture. This journey is complemented by distinctive fossils from Spanish sites, including a replica of the holotype of the theropod ‘Concavenator corcovatus,’ dinosaur eggs from Guadalajara, and dinosaur remains from Castellón, Cuenca, Teruel, Valencia, and Soria.
The star attraction of the exhibition is ‘Concavenator corcovatus’ – the humpbacked hunter of Cuenca – a theropod dinosaur measuring about six meters in length that lived around 130 million years ago in the Lower Cretaceous period in the province of Cuenca. The exhibition showcases a replica of the fossil and a lifelike recreation of this dinosaur, the largest and best-preserved medium to large-sized theropod found in Europe. The specimen is almost complete and articulated, with exceptional preservation that even includes impressions of scales and soft tissues.