After nearly 40 years of being exhibited, the Pacific Science Center’s installation “Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time” has been decommissioned.

The exhibit was first built back in 1968 and featured iconic animatronic dinosaurs that became a highlight of the museum.

When asked about her opinion of the dinosaur exhibit, Zoe Greenberg (‘26) stated, “The giant dinosaurs are iconic. It feels like they’ve been there for so long.” Quincy Sheker (‘27) shared a similar sentiment, “I think that was the best part of the museum.”

Due to the vital role the Pacific Science Center played in many Lincoln students’ youth the dinosaurs hold immense nostalgic value. Nadia Tabbara (‘26) expressed her thoughts on the removal of the dinosaur exhibit, “I’m scared for the future of Seattle kids…because that was a big part of my childhood.”

The dinosaurs were only meant to last for about 15 years; maintaining them for double their intended lifespan put too much of a financial strain on the Science Center to continue any longer because of the foam latex and silicone material rapidly deteriorating.

Due to the difficult and costly maintenance, they have been replaced by a novel spider-centered exhibit. The new exhibit is called “Spiders: From Fear to Fascination” and features interactive elements for visitors to engage with, such as hands-on activities and various species of live spiders, according to the Pacific Science Center’s official website. They have stated that their hope is for visitors to see the importance and beauty of spiders and potentially conquer their fears in a comfortable environment.

Although the nostalgic dinosaur exhibit is not set to return, the new spider exhibit will create a unique learning opportunity for future generations of kids. Plus, the Pacific Science Center promises to feature at least one of the dinosaurs from the original exhibit in a separate part of the museum, serving as a reminder of the treasured past exhibit.