Dryptosaurus to invade Lake County Discovery Museum

If you don't know what crinoids, trilobites or coelophysis' are, you will after touring this exhibit.

"Prehistoric Lake County" opens at the Lake County Discovery Museum on Saturday, March 28. The show runs until Aug. 30.

Visitors will see examples of creatures that roamed the county millions of years ago. The head of an ancient bison, a tooth from a saber-toothed cat and a cast of dinosaur footprints among the items are on display in this temporary show.

Some 450 million years of history are divided into to three eras. Explore the creatures that lived during the Silurian, Mesozoic and Quaternary periods.

You don't want to miss seeing the head of the very toothy Dryptosaurus. The 1-ton, meat-eating beast lived in Lake County about 70 million years ago.

The plastic resin replica was created by University of Chicago paleo artist Tyler Keillor.

Keillor said it took nearly three months to complete the head.

An expert in his field, Keillor's recreations can be seen in museums across the country, including the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

"It is highly detailed," Keillor said. "I included bite marks and scars the dinosaur may have had from fighting or hunting."

Kids will be able to hunt for real fossils in three different "dig pits." Each pit represents one of the major time periods. Exhibits manager Steve Furnett said the children will be able to take one fossil home as a keepsake.

Located on Route 176 just west of Fairfield Road near Wauconda, the museum is open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children 17 and under. On discount Tuesdays, adults pay $3 and kids are free. For more information, call (847) 968-3400.