Imagine an encounter with Paluxysaurus jonesi, the intimidating 60-foot-long, 12-foot-tall official state dinosaur of Texas that roamed these parts about 112 million years ago. Or being caught in a virtual prairie thunderstorm as you walk among a herd of freestanding life-size longhorns in the Cattle Raisers Museum.
Perhaps stargazing is your cup of tea, and you can do just that in the Noble Planetarium, where live feeds from the Hubble Telescope offer a real-time view of our solar system. You may get lucky and witness an asteroid or a meteor shower live. These and many other jaw-dropping interactive experiences await when the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History opens its doors Friday, marking the start of a new era in the museum’s history.What began in 1945 as the Fort Worth Children’s Museum has evolved into a dazzling 166,000-square-foot, $80 million state-of-the-art complex that will thrill children and enable adults to find their inner child.Whether you visit prehistoric times, ride a replica of a streetcar to see how Fort Worth has changed over the years or learn how technology shapes our lives, the "happy building" (as its architects have called it) is a world-class facility — both entertaining and educational. We've taken a closer look at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History - at the colorful building, the interactive activities and the people who bring learning to life.■ 10 museum highlights not to miss■ Explore the museum in this floor-by-floor interactive graphic■ Opening-week schedule, tips for parents and what to know before you go■ Our art and design critic reviews the Legorreta building■ We chat with the "wizards" behind the museum’s technological feats■ Fun facts from the Cattle Raisers Museum■ VIDEO: CSI: Fort Worth■ VIDEO: Noble Planetarium goes hi-tech■ VIDEO: Get your Dino Dig on■ VIDEO: Energy blast: Innovation happening right here in the Barnett Shale■ VIDEO: Museum school opens new worlds to kids - young and oldComing Friday: A closer look at the museum’s first big traveling exhibit, "CSI: The Experience." In Go!Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
