Dinosaurs Come to the Rose Parade

A float from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County will take its first trip Jan. 2 down Colorado Boulevard.

One thing often comes to mind when one thinks of the Natural History museum: dinosaurs. So when an invitation was extended to the museum, officials knew what they had to do.

The museum's float is called "Dinosaurs in LA's Backyard" and will feature three life-sized dinosaurs.

"This is one of the biggest thing's that's happened to the museum in a long time," said Julia Rivera, of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. "Minus the new Dinosaur Hall opening, but this is up there."

They are, after all, the stars of the new Dinosaur Hall which opened this summer, and the symbol of the institution.

Even though these dino facsimiles are made of pea petals and palms, they are sure to light up the eyes of every kid on the route come Monday.

"I have yet to meet someone who doesn't love dinosaurs," says Rivera. "They sort of have that two to 92 factor. If you're young, you love them. If you're old, you remember that you love them, and that just sort of comes out when you're around them. There aren't very many opportunities to be around life-size dinosaurs, and we've got three of them on our float."

With this float the newest is also the oldest.

This may be the museum's first time, but it is also the Los Angeles float, the longest running continuous participant in Rose Parade history.

Another first may be that experts in the field of paleontology are also gluing split peas, eucalyptus leaves, and seaweed to re-create the giants they make their living studying.

"The theme for this year is 'Just Imagine' and our float is following that theme," says Rivera, "and we would like people to imagine dinosaurs in LA's backyard."

Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @NBCLA // Facebook: NBCLA

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45830862/ns/local_news-los_angeles_ca/

comedian patrice o neal occupy philadelphia occupy philadelphia conrad murray conrad murray jack del rio jack del rio