Colchester Museums’ highly anticipated new exhibition, Discover: Museum Wonders, opens tomorrow (3 April) at Hollytrees Museum, unveiling the city’s first-ever real dinosaur skeleton! At its centre is a remarkable six-metre fossil, known as Juliasaurus, presented to the public for the very first time. Early research indicates that this specimen, generously loaned by an international collector and facilitated by David Aaron, may even represent a species new to science.
This landmark moment follows a fantastic feature on BBC’s The One Show yesterday (1 April), presented by Ella Al-Shamahi where Juliasaurus and its story were profiled for a national audience. The segment highlighted the significance of the specimen, discovered in the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of Wyoming and recognised as one of the most important dinosaur finds in recent years.
What else is there to discover?
Alongside the skeleton, the exhibition presents an array of “discovered” objects from Colchester’s past – from prehistoric fossils to magical witch bottles and hidden shoes found beneath historic floorboards – all revealing centuries of belief, superstition and science.
Visitors can also explore the pop‑up Dino Store, offering dinosaur‑themed books, toys and gifts perfect for families and dino‑fans of all ages.
Timed Tickets Selling Fast
Due to the limited capacity of the museum’s historic Georgian galleries, the exhibition operates timed ticketing. Three two‑hour slots are available Monday–Saturday, with high demand already seen following the media attention and national coverage. Early booking is strongly encouraged to secure a visit.
Tickets are available to purchase at colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/discover.
Pamela Donnelly, Colchester City Council’s Chief Executive, said: “We are incredibly proud to open this once‑in‑a‑lifetime exhibition to the public. To welcome Juliasaurus – making its global debut right here in Colchester – is an extraordinary moment for our city. The excitement following yesterday’s national TV feature shows just how special this exhibition is. We're very grateful to everyone that has allowed this extraordinary specimen to be publicly displayed for the first time, here in Colchester and can’t wait for visitors, from families to fossil enthusiasts, to step into the world of discovery that awaits at Hollytrees Museum.”
Salomon Aaron, Director, David Aaron, added: “We are thrilled to be working with Hollytrees Museum on the historic loan of ‘Juliasaurus’ for the Discover: Museum Wonders exhibition. This will be the first dinosaur fossil ever displayed in Colchester making this project all the more meaningful for us and I hope for the local community.”
A major moment for Colchester
The arrival of Juliasaurus marks a milestone for Colchester Museums and the wider region, offering residents and visitors an unparalleled opportunity to encounter a real dinosaur up close and explore the surprising and curious stories uncovered across Colchester’s long history.
Discover: Museum Wonders opens tomorrow, 3 April 2026.