Washington Park's Fossil Lab Expands Community Programs for 2026 with New T-Rex Exhibition

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Washington Park · December 3, 2025

The Washington Park Fossil Lab has announced its winter schedule for December 2025, confirming that its popular monthly open houses will pause during winter months before resuming with expanded programming in early spring 2026. The 6,000-square-foot facility, located at 5437 S. Wabash Avenue, continues to serve as a unique science destination for neighborhood residents since its opening.

Community response has been enthusiastic, with the lab welcoming visitors of all ages to experience its fossil collections up close. "It's wonderful to be part of the work and see and feel things like we see on science shows on TV," shared Cecilia Butler, Washington Park Resident Advocacy Council President. The facility features glass-walled preparation areas where visitors can watch scientists at work, along with a Learning Room designed for community gatherings, educational programs, and special events. Neighborhood residents are particularly excited about the announcement that the lab will unveil a complete T-rex skeleton in early 2026, which paleontologist Paul Sereno describes as "a game-changer for any kid in the neighborhood that dreamed of getting within arm's reach of dinosaur bones."

Sources:
1. https://paulsereno.uchicago.edu/fossil_lab/
2. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/uchicago-paleontologist-paul-serenos-fossil-lab-moves-washington-park