By Freke Ette

200 million years ago, long before humans settled in the Connecticut River Valley, dinosaurs walked the swamps and plains, leaving indisputable evidence of their presence in the area. And while New England may not be what springs to mind when one thinks of dinosaurs, some of the earliest fossils in the United States were found here in the 1800s.

Initially, paleontologist Edward Hitchcock described the fossils from Greenfield as bird footprints. The word ‘dinosaur’ had not yet been coined, and Hitchcock was unwilling to concede scientific discoveries that would undermine the predominant biblical worldview.

Fred Venne, Education Director at the Beneski Museum of Natural History, shared these anecdotes during a museum tour to kick off the 2026 Dino Trail Week 2: Evolution Revolution, which runs from July 11 to July 19.

The launch event took place on Friday, June 26, at the Beneski Museum, and featured representatives from organizations like the Shelburne Falls’ Piti Theater, the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, the Wistariahurst in Holyoke, and the Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, CT.

The Dino Trail Week, now entering its second year, began as the Greenfield Dino Fest in 2017, eventually expanding into a valley-wide event.

Jonathan Mirin, the Artistic Director at the Piti Theater, explained that the Dino Trail Week brings the Pioneer Valley’s rich archeological heritage to life. For Mirin, the combination of hard science, storytelling, and deep time connected to locations around the Valley is a significant aspect of the week’s events.  

Presenters unveiled a series of programs to celebrate dinosaur-themed festivities, with activities curated for people of all ages.

Janel Nockelby, Visitor Services Supervisor at the Great Falls Discovery Center, shared information about the Canalside Rail Trail and a dinosaur-themed story hour where visitors can make dinosaur tracks and dioramas.

Wistariahurst Museum Office Assistant Emily Munsell mentioned that visitors will receive a guided tour of dinosaur footprints along the museum driveway, with an additional tour, hosted by Venne, through a dinosaur footprint site in Holyoke.

In addition to ongoing events at the Great Falls Discovery Center, Sarah Doyle shared stories about Orra Hitchcock, a scientific illustrator and married to Edward Hitchcock, a former professor who later became the third president of Amherst College.

Doyle urged members of the community to consider stopping by the Deerfield Academy, where the Hitchcocks started their careers as teachers, to see Hitchcock’s highly detailed plant study notebooks on display. 

Dino Trail Week 2026 Events

• Saturday, 7/11: Dinosaur Footprints at Barton Cove: History and Geology. Barton Cove, Gill.
• Sunday, 7/12: ART NATURALLY: Gel Printing Trace Fossils. The Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls.
• Monday, 7/13 – Friday, 7/17: Dino Drama Workshop. Greenfield Public Library, Greenfield.
• Tuesday, 7/14: Dino Double Header at Wistariahurst & The Trustees Dino Track, Holyoke. 
• Wednesday, 7/15: Dino Trail Day. Beneski Museum of Natural History, Amherst.
• Wednesday, 7/15: Dino Wizards. Greenfield Public Library, Greenfield.
• Thursday, 7/16: Evolution Revolution, with New Dino Exhibit. Springfield Museums, Springfield. 
• Thursday, 7/16: Museum Tour + Track Talk. Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill, CT.
• Thursday, 7/16: Geologic Walking Tour of Turners Falls. Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls.
• Friday, 7/17: Kidleidoscope Story Hour: Dinosaurs. The Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls.
• Saturday, 7/18: Great Greenfield DinoFest. 2nd Congregational Church on the Common, Greenfield.
• Sunday, 7/19: Dino Family Fun Day. Wistariahurst Museum, Holyoke.
• Sunday, July 19: Art Naturally: Make Your Own Jurassic Dinosaur Habitat Diorama and Collage Workshop. Great Falls Discovery Center, Turners Falls.

Further details for times and location of Dino Trail Week 2 event: Evolution Revolution can be seen here.