Large-scale Dinosaur Model for Children’s Museum

The largest children's museum in the United States, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, had a recent addition to its collection:  a 62’ Brachiosaurus dinosaur model.   The main attraction for dinosaur fans is the Dinosphere, which features mounted fossils, interactive displays, a huge collection of dinosaur art, and a "Paleo Prep Lab" where kids can dig for fossils and learn how to prepare their finds.  Even though it's "only" a kid’s museum, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is right up there at the forefront of paleontology research.  Rock-it Cargo was in charge of getting the Dinosaur model and the baby Dinosaur model from different stages

The Dinosaur’s frame – made mainly of fiberglass  - was created in Creston, BC, Canada. It then had to be taken to Kearney, Missouri, where the skin was applied and painted. For the move, the Dinosaur had to be divided into three parts: the head, the body and the tail; even so, the body alone was 12’8”.  A special double drop deck truck was needed, and cranes were required for the loading and unloading. After about a month and a half in Kearney, the painted Dinosaur model was finally ready to be delivered to the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis.

To make things even more complicated, the museum wanted the model’s arrival on the flatbeds to be televised by the media.  As the truck with the dinosaur was coming into town, Rock-it Cargo had to coordinate with the local news stations’ vans and helicopters to get the shots they wanted.  Rock-it arranged for the truck and delivery team to meet the media at 5:00 A.M. outside of town and the delivery of the dinosaur model was filmed as it reached its destination at the Children’s Museum.