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Pokémon Fossil Museum Heads to Denver in May 2027
By @sharedot · · 8 pages
- Culture
- Museums
- Pokemon
- Exhibitions
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science will host the Pokémon Fossil Museum's second North American stop, opening May 28, 2027, after its Chicago run.
What happened: Denver lands the Fossil Pokémon
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has announced that the Pokémon Fossil Museum will open to the public on May 28, 2027, according to CBS News and KRDO. The exhibition pairs real fossils and casts with life-size models of Fossil Pokémon, and CBS News reports museum officials expect it to follow the Chicago Field Museum's debut as the exhibition's second North American stop. The Denver museum says it is excited to welcome the show, which debuted in Japan and drew more than one million fans there.
Why it is surprising: a game franchise inside a science museum
What makes the stop remarkable is the premise: a science museum teaching paleontology through fictional creatures. CBS News notes the show displays a cast of SUE the T. rex's iconic skull alongside the Pokémon Tyrantrum, showing guests how fossils are found and studied and highlighting differences between the specimens. Video Games Chronicle reports The Pokémon Company frames the exhibition as building a bridge between our real world and the world of Pokémon, with signage that motivates Trainers of all ages to consider their own connections with nature.
The journey: five years touring Japan
According to KRDO, the exhibition first debuted at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Japan and traveled across that country for five years before closing in April of this year to prepare for its move to North America. KRDO also reports the Chicago edition is on display until April 2027, with Video Games Chronicle citing a April 11, 2027 closing date before the show moves to Colorado. A similar exhibition is currently taking place at London's Natural History Museum, though Video Games Chronicle says that one is less focused on fossil Pokémon and carries different merchandise.
The stakes: a unique entry point for paleontology
Museum officials see the exhibition as more than fan service. CBS News quotes Patrick O'Connor, director of Earth & Space Sciences at the Denver museum, saying the show offers a unique way to engage guests of all ages with paleontological science, and that pairing familiar Pokémon with actual fossils creates an entry point for learning about prehistoric life and the scientific process of studying fossils. With a demonstrated audience of over a million visitors in Japan, the museum is betting the crossover will turn Trainers into fossil enthusiasts.
Merchandise and the Excavator Pikachu shop
One detail devoted fans will care about: the shop travels with the show. Video Games Chronicle reports the Pokémon Fossil Museum shop will move from Chicago to Colorado, featuring the popular Excavator Pikachu plush along with other exclusive merchandise — a collectible angle that has helped distinguish this exhibition from the London version. KRDO adds that the Denver exhibit will feature signs educating visitors on how fossils are made and studied, as well as on connections with nature.
What comes next: tickets and pre-sale access
Plans are already moving. CBS News and KRDO report that fans who want to be first in line when tickets go on sale can sign up for the Denver museum's interest list, which grants exclusive pre-sale access before tickets go to the general public. KRDO says tickets will be available on the museum's website. Meanwhile, Chicago visitors have until April 2027 to see the exhibition before it leaves the Midwest for Colorado.