Museo del Desierto
Northeast Mexico Region
The Desert Museum, located in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, is dedicated to promoting ecological awareness by showcasing the natural history and biodiversity of the Mexican desert. Designed by architect Francisco López Guerra and inaugurated in 1999, the museum features four main pavilions that explore different themes: the geological origins of deserts and local fossils, the cultural heritage of indigenous nomads, the evolution and biodiversity of the region over the last 12,000 years, and an interactive biodome tracing 70 million years of fauna evolution. Notable exhibits include dinosaur replicas such as Isauria, Sabinosaurio, Quetzalcoatlus, and a large Tyrannosaurus rex model measuring 17 meters long and 5 meters high. Visitors can also observe petroglyphs, rupestrian paintings, and a herpetology laboratory where specialists work with native reptiles. The museum combines scientific research with interactive displays to offer an engaging educational experience about the desert ecosystem and its past inhabitants.
ヒント: The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance online to avoid lines. Visiting in the morning is ideal to fully explore all four pavilions. Discounts are available for children, families, and school groups. Guided tours can be arranged by contacting the museum in advance. Comfortable walking shoes are advised as the museum covers a large area.
興味深い事実
- •The museum features a 17-meter-long, 5-meter-high Tyrannosaurus rex replica, one of the largest dinosaur models displayed in Mexico.
- •It houses a collection of 162 specimens of the fossil species Salinites grossicostatum.
- •The museum includes a herpetology laboratory where live reptiles native to the desert are studied and cared for.
- •The interactive biodome in the Laboratory of Life pavilion allows visitors to experience the desert fauna as it existed 70 million years ago.
歴史
The Desert Museum was inaugurated on November 25, 1999, by then-President Ernesto Zedillo and the directors of the Amigos del Desierto de Coahuila foundation.
The project originated in the 1990s, inspired by significant discoveries in geology, anthropology, paleontology, and biology in the region.
It was conceived as a collaborative effort to promote ecological culture by presenting the evolution of species and the richness of desert life interactively.
The Evolution and Biodiversity pavilion was added in 2005 and remodeled in 2014 to enhance the visitor experience.
場所ガイド
Desert and Its Past Pavilion
This pavilion explores the geological origins of deserts and showcases fossils discovered in the Mexican desert, including dinosaurs such as Isauria, Sabinosaurio, Quetzalcoatlus, and the Tyrannosaurus rex. It also highlights the mineral wealth of the region, with a focus on coal mining.
Man and the Desert Pavilion
Dedicated to the customs and rituals of the nomadic peoples who inhabited the region, this pavilion displays petroglyphs and rupestrian paintings characteristic of the area, offering insights into the human history of the desert.
Evolution and Biodiversity Pavilion2005
Inaugurated in 2005 and remodeled in 2014, this pavilion presents the evolution of biodiversity over the last 12,000 years, featuring fossils of mammoths, saber-toothed cats, short-faced bears, and gomphotheres. It houses a significant fossil collection including Salinites grossicostatum specimens.
Laboratory of Life Pavilion
An interactive pavilion featuring a biodome that traces 70 million years of fauna evolution. It also includes a herpetology laboratory where specialists study and care for the museum's reptiles, offering visitors a unique, immersive experience.
連絡先
電話: 844 986 9000