The wild world after dinosaurs comes alive at the Field Museum

About 66 million years ago, an asteroid slammed into Earth with the force of a billion nuclear bombs. In an instant, the dinosaurs were gone, and the planet was left smoldering. But life didn’t vanish; it adjusted, stumbled forward, and evolved in unexpected ways. Odd new creatures began to appear, and the world started over. Beginning Aug. 29, the Field Museum invites visitors to step into that overlooked chapter with its new exhibition, After the Age of Dinosaurs, on view through Sept. 7, 2026.

The exhibition drops visitors into the messy aftermath of the impact. Animations, thunderous sound effects, and even a fossilized fish, thought to have died on the very day of the strike, set the tone. From that destruction came a planet reborn: rainforests teeming with flowering plants, mammals evolving into new forms, and animals that seem both strange and strangely familiar.

Picture a penguin taller than your fridge, a horse miniature enough to trot across your coffee table, or a snake so massive it could take down a crocodile. These unlikely survivors ruled a tropical Earth rising from the ashes.

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“This is a period people don’t often picture. They know the dinosaurs, and they know the Ice Age, but not what came in between,” said Marie Georg, exhibition developer. “We wanted to fill that gap with moments of interactivity and discovery.” 

Visitors will not only see fossils but hear the sounds of the cataclysm, touch the contours of ancient creatures, and measure themselves against long-extinct giants.

Ken Angielczyk, the MacArthur curator of paleomammalogy and exhibition co-curator, is especially excited to showcase species the public rarely encounters. He points to Titanoboa, the largest snake ever known to exist, as one of the stars. “There are animals that are quite unfamiliar, but they’re scientifically very important,” he said in a press release.

While much of the fossil collection comes from the renowned Green River Formation in Wyoming, the exhibition also draws closer to home. Fossils from Illinois’ own Mazon Creek, located just south of Chicago, are included to remind visitors that the story of Earth’s resilience after mass extinction is not just global, but also local.

Chicago artist Jay Ryan adds his bold illustrations to the visual spectacle. He is best known for his poster and album cover work for the Flaming Lips and Andrew Bird. Ryan collaborated with scientists to reimagine this strange new world in a pop-art style that feels both playful and scientifically sharp. His artwork punctuates the galleries, bridging the gap between science and imagination.

For co-curator Fabiany Herrera, the Negaunee associate curator of paleobotany, the exhibition conveys a message that extends beyond ancient history. “Everything we see now resulted from that extinction,” he said. “And right now, we are facing our own extinction crisis at different levels. We want visitors to reflect on that connection.”

By weaving artistry, science, and storytelling, the Field Museum has created more than a fossil showcase. It is a journey through destruction and resilience, reminding us that from Earth’s darkest hours came its next great chapter. This chapter reshaped the understanding of evolution and continues to reverberate in the challenges of life today.

After the Age of Dinosaurs is a ticketed exhibition. An All-Access Pass is $43 for adults, with a discounted rate of $34 for Chicago residents. Members enjoy free admission, and Illinois teachers, military personnel, and EBT/WIC cardholders also qualify for discounts.