Dorset County Museum opens its brand new Jurassic Coast Gallery in Summer 2006.

Thanks to a £336,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the existing Geology gallery has been completely transformed into a state-of-the-art, 185 million year 'walk through time'.

Designed as a focal point for all visitors to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, the Gallery charts the full 95 miles of coastline from Exmouth in Devon to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset.

Visitors to the new Gallery will learn how the coast was formed, what you can see today, and why it is so important. This fascinating geological story will be delivered through touch, sound, text, and interactive displays, and at levels to suit all ages and all abilities.

Displays will show visitors what past environments were like - for example, in the Cretaceous Period the Jurassic Coast was flooded by a vast tropical sea. Children can follow the dinosaur tracks to measure themselves against a Megalosaurus or 'giant lizard'. Visitors can also find an enormous Pliosaur flipper, and discover the story of Ammonites - an important group of fossils used to tell how old rocks are. Another display shows us an Ichthyosaur fossil - ichthyosaurs were fierce predators in Jurassic seas with powerful tails and formidable teeth.

Our two flying Pterosaurs are also sure to be the centre of much attention!

It is hoped that visitors will leave the Jurassic Coast Gallery eager to visit other areas of the coastline and learn more about the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site as a whole.