Monsters. Predators. Aquatic creatures. Oh my! OMSI’s Monsters of the Abyss: Aquatic Monsters Past + Present opened Saturday, October 4th, and I brought my 10-year-old and 2.5-year-old to it. We’re already big OMSI fans, and I was pleasantly surprised that the exhibit appealed to both of them, given that they’re about 8 years apart in age. My kids ran through it, marveling at the monsters, watching the lizards, snakes, and turtles in their tanks, and stamping their paper “passports” with an old-fashioned 3D stamper.
A volunteer at the beginning of the exhibit explained to our group that while these amphibians and mammals were considered “monsters,” really the name of the exhibit is designed to appeal to kids. It worked — mine loved every part of it, especially seeing the variety of creatures in their tanks. Included on that creature list are the Diamondback Terrapin, Pixie Frog, Caiman Lizard, — and snakes galore! Another volunteer explained to us that one of the snakes that could stay underneath for quite a while would surface for air — and that you could spot its air bubble when it did. My kids and I really appreciated how much the staff shared with us and how attentive they were. The exhibit truly honed in on the connection of “monsters” both past and present and included placards upon placards of interesting info, like that the Dutuitosaurus, over 230 million years old, was “huge when compared to modern amphibians,” or that Spinosaurus aegyptiacus (Cretaceous period), a swimming dinosaur, had a sail on its back made of dense bones. Was that sail for display or aquatic use? Your guess is as good as my kids’ (i.e., no idea)!
The placards also encourage your kiddos’ interaction and attention, advising them to “look closer,” showcasing interesting storytelling aspects of the fossils; for example, on the Spinosaurus, the ‘Look Closer’ section states that “there are many places where the spines on the back and tail were broken and healed. This animal was likely wounded by fighting with other Spinosaurus, but survived long enough for the injuries to heal. If that doesn’t make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the OG Jurassic Park, I don’t know what will!
Much of the exhibit is also in a combination of English and Spanish, making it all the more inclusive. My kids also enjoyed digging in the “sand” pits right outside, where they could discover fossils buried within (they’re not really sand as much as they are those little colorful rocks that remind me of being a kid in the 90s). I believe the sand pits are a permanent part of OMSI and not specific to this exhibit, but it was still easily one of my kiddos’ favorite parts of the evening! You really can’t beat a 90s-era sand pit where you can pretend to be an archeologist.
The staff was knowledgeable, this display is located in one of the most fun museums to go to in Portland, and it was, overall, super educational/fascinating. What more could you ask for?
Anna Giles has written about parenting, her kids, cats, and other things for over 10 years now (the math is easy when your oldest kid is 10). Fancy companies she’s written for include Delta, IHG, Bravo, NBC, E!, Syfy, and Disney. Parenting publications she’s written for include Romper, Time Out New York Kids, and Mommy Nearest. She’s really good at procrastinating on writing her Great American Novel. She has two kids and a perfect golden retriever. A born-and-raised Southerner, she’s learning to love her new PNW home in Portland but would really like to join a sauna during the winters, so please read her articles!!!