About Us
About Us
Welcome to the Dinosaur Store & Museum
The Dinosaur Store first opened in November 1996 as a small fossil and mineral shop in Cocoa Beach. What started with a handful of display cases quickly grew into something much larger. Within a few years, our team was designing traveling exhibits for some of the nation’s most respected museums—including the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, the Science Spectrum in Texas, and MOSI in Tampa.
Those years of building exhibits taught us something important: people everywhere, young and old, are fascinated by the ancient worlds that came before us. We loved sharing those wonders across the country, but we wanted to create something lasting right here in our own community. In 2006, that dream took shape. A new building was designed with a nonprofit museum at its core. By 2009, the Dinosaur Store and Adventure Zone opened on the first floor, and in 2017, the vision was completed when the Museum of Dinosaurs and Ancient Cultures opened across the second and third floors.
Today, what began as a local shop has grown into a 26,000-square-foot destination where education, history, and imagination come together.
We would be delighted for you to include us on your list of THINGS TO DO IN COCOA BEACH!
The Museum:
Dinosaurs and Beyond
Step into the museum and you’ll quickly see it’s more than just fossils in glass cases. Yes, you’ll stand beneath the massive bones of a 46-foot Giganotosaurus skeleton, but you’ll also find yourself wandering through:
- Recreated Egyptian tombs, complete with treasures and burial chambers
- Mesoamerican temples and relics from early civilizations
- A full-scale Terracotta Soldiers diorama from ancient China
- Sparkling minerals and crystals, alongside authentic fossils and amber
Here, the prehistoric and the ancient sit side by side. One floor immerses you in the age of dinosaurs, while the next carries you through thousands of years of human history. The result is a museum experience that excites children, inspires families, and still manages to impress serious collectors and history enthusiasts.
A Place to Play
Not every part of The Dinosaur Store is about quiet discovery. On the first floor, the Adventure Zone offers an entirely different kind of fun. Kids can pan for gems in a working sluice, explore the Reptile Run with live creatures, or settle into the movie cave for short educational films. Arcade challenges and hands-on activities make it a favorite stop for families, where learning feels more like playtime.
It’s the balance between awe-inspiring exhibits and lively interaction that makes The Dinosaur Store such a versatile destination.
The Store That Started It All
At the heart of it all is still the store—the place where our story began. It’s not your typical souvenir shop. Instead, it’s a collection curated for curiosity-seekers and collectors alike. Here you’ll find:
- Authentic fossils, claws, and teeth
- Meteorites and minerals from around the world
- Educational replicas and discovery kits for kids
- Unique jewelry, books, and collectibles
Many visitors come in just to browse, but often leave with a piece of history in hand. Whether it’s a small fossil for a child’s first collection or a rare specimen for a serious enthusiast, the store remains one of the most memorable parts of the experience.
Why Visit?
Because you get three experiences in one. The Dinosaur Store is:
- A museum that rivals major institutions with its depth and variety
- An adventure zone that keeps children engaged and entertained
- A store where every item tells a story
And it’s all located just two blocks from the beach, in the very heart of Cocoa Beach. Whether you’re escaping the midday heat, looking for a rainy-day adventure, or planning a family outing, The Dinosaur Store & Museum is the kind of place you won’t soon forget. For more than twenty-five years, we’ve been welcoming visitors from around the world—and we’d love for you to be next.
