By Henry Savage
From The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia region is entering a new era of dinosaur discovery, reaffirming South Jersey as one of the world’s most significant sites for paleontology.
The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University opens on March 29 in Glassboro, New Jersey, showcasing more than a century of internationally recognized dinosaur fossils and history—right in Philadelphia’s backyard.
A Glimpse Into the Past
Some 66 million years ago, before the fifth mass extinction wiped out three-quarters of Earth’s species, South Jersey was submerged under a shallow sea teeming with marine and terrestrial life. When the city-sized asteroid Chicxulub struck off the coast of what is now Mexico, it set off a chain reaction that led to the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs. Their remains settled beneath the ocean floor, preserved for millennia.Story continues below advertisement
Today, that prehistoric seabed forms the foundation of South Jersey. In some areas, fossils lie just 65 feet below the surface, waiting to be uncovered.
Life-sized depictions of creatures that roamed the area 66 million years ago in the Dinosaur Coast prehistoric life dioramas produced by Gary Staab at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, during a media preview March 5, 2025, before the museum officially opens March 29. Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
Bringing the Museum to Life
The nearly 45,000-square-foot facility, designed by Ennead Architects and KSS Architects, is nestled behind quintessential New Jersey strip malls. A winding road leads visitors to the museum, which prioritizes sustainability through the use of materials like Accoya-modified pine wood and reduced-cement concrete. More than 70 geothermal wells beneath the parking lot provide most of the museum’s heating and cooling.The museum was brought to life through the efforts of Ken Lacovara, an award-winning paleontologist credited with discovering one of the largest terrestrial dinosaurs, Dreadnoughtus. His partnerships with Rowan University, where he teaches, and a $25 million donation from Ric and Jean Edelman made the project possible.
What to Expect
The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum is an interactive learning center designed by G&A to transport visitors back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Exhibits explore how these creatures coexisted with other wildlife, how they disappeared, and what lessons their extinction holds for today’s climate challenges.
Beyond fossils, the museum offers immersive experiences, including free-roaming virtual reality adventures and a fossil quarry where visitors can dig for their own discoveries. Plans are in the works to introduce overnight “Night at the Museum” sleepovers.
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Paleontologist Ken Lacovara (left) leads a tour in the free-roam virtual reality room at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, during a media preview March 5, 2025, before the museum officially opens March 29. Lacovara is the founding executive director of the museum. The VR room is a "premium experience" journey that follows an expedition mission to collect scientific samples that comes face-to-face with dinosaurs. Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
Exhibits
On the museum’s first floor, three exhibits are submerged in jungle, coastal, and forest-like terrain with life-size re-creations of many dinosaurs that inhabited this region millions of years ago. World-renowned paleoartist Gary Staab created all replicas seen in the museum.- Dinosaur Coast:Walk through what the East Coast would’ve looked like 66 million years ago, including depictions of local dinosaurs experiencing the highs and lows of everyday life.
- Monstrous Seas: An “underwater” exhibit, complete with ocean floor lighting and sounds, houses the museum’s largest dinosaur re-creation of the 55-foot Mosasaur and other aquatic dinosaurs from the region.
- Hall of Extinction & Hope: A sobering yet inspiring look at the fifth mass extinction and humanity’s role in preventing a sixth. The exhibit concludes with an interactive kiosk offering ways to take action.
- Discovery Forest: A nature-themed lounge and library area to watch educational videos, discover fossils, and learn about Earth’s history.
- Collections & Conservation: A research space where Rowan University paleontologists and students study and store fossils.
- Critter Cove: Live touch-tank exhibits featuring distant relatives of Cretaceous-era creatures.
Ric Edelman views an interactive exhibit in the Monstrous Seas Gallery at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, during a media preview March 5, 2025, before the museum officially opens March 29. The section explores the depths of the Cretaceous ocean, when the park's property was underwater. Edelman, along with his wife, Jean, both Rowan alumni, donated $25 million to the facility. Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
Immersive Add-on Experiences
- Expedition Voyager: A 15-minute virtual reality experience where guests join an expedition crew, encountering dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures while collecting scientific samples.
- Fossil Quarry Dig: The 90-minute main attraction, where guests can dig into the soft earth of the marl quarry to find fossils from the Cretaceous Period and take home discoveries.
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A baby Hadrosaurus foulkii is emerging from its shell in the Dinosaur Coast prehistoric life dioramas produced by Gary Staab at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
Cafe and Gift Shop
- Quarry Grounds Cafe: Named after the museum’s very own line of coffee, Quarry Grounds, this corner cafe sells coffee and espresso drinks, pastries, and small bites sourced from local New Jersey vendors.
- Darwin & Co. Store: A nod to the English scientist Charles Darwin, the museum’s gift shop sells an assortment of books, puzzles, games, plush toys, jewelry, science kits, clothing, and much more. An online version of the store will be available soon at darwinandco.org.
If You Go
General admission includes access to all exhibits. Add-on experiences cost $25 each.Admission prices:
- Explorer (13+): $29
- Junior Explorer (3-12): $24
- Toddler (0-2): Free
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