Dinosaurland Fossil Museum is aimed at children from 5 to 85 with an interest in fossils and dinosaurs. It houses a vast collection of the local Jurassic marine fossils and explains what they are, why they are there and what they mean.
The Fossil Collection takes up most of the ground floor of the building. It is a spectacular collection of the local 200 million year old Jurassic marine fossils ranging from the largest Ichthyosaur through ammonites, belemnites, fish and starfish to the tiniest microfossil. You will see the full range of what lived in the Jurassic Sea in a way that might surprise you (did you know that at least 21 different types of belemnites are found in Lyme Regis?). More exotic exhibits include Chinese dinosaurs, Russian trilobites and a 73-kilo lump of dinosaur dung!
1A general view of the dinosaurs
The Time Gallery introduces you to the vastness of geological time and takes you through a tour showing how the continents and life have changed with time culminating in the monsters of the Age of the Dinosaurs.
The Natural History Room has a collection of modern shells and skeletons to show you how modern life evolved and how it is related to the dinosaurs and fossils in the museum.
Specialist Collections are spread round the museum in small side rooms or dotted around amidst other displays.
The idea is that you can understand the fossils found in Lyme Regis, put the 200 million year age into some sort of context and relate modern creatures to what is found in the fossil record. You can also find out how to discover your own 200 million year old fossil.
But if you prefer, you can enjoy the fossils for their sheer beauty and growl at the dinosaurs.