dowgardens.org

Dinosaurs Around the World is a seasonal exhibit at Dow Gardens featuring ten life-sized animatronic dinosaurs placed along the garden trails and the forest paths of Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens. It opens May 19 and runs through October 25, and it is included with admission — no separate exhibit ticket is required.

What you'll see

• Ten life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. These are moving, mechanical models rather than static sculptures, so expect motion and sound as you walk past them.
• A trail-based layout, not a single building. The dinosaurs are distributed across two connected properties: Dow Gardens itself and Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens. You cover ground on foot to see the full exhibit.
• Two kinds of scenery. The exhibit is split between cultivated garden trails and forest paths, so the walk changes character as you move between the two areas.

Because the models are spread out rather than gathered in one hall, plan the exhibit as part of a longer walk rather than a quick stop.

When to go

The exhibit runs for roughly five months, so timing is flexible. Two practical notes:

• Check the day. The gardens are currently open Tuesday through Sunday. A Monday visit would mean no entry at all, exhibit included.
• Check the season. A May or June visit and an October visit are different experiences — the gardens change with the seasons, and the forest paths at Whiting Forest are a large part of the walk.

Cost

The exhibit is included with admission. There is no separate upcharge for Dinosaurs Around the World, so you do not need to budget an extra exhibit fee on top of your entry ticket.

Admission is purchased through the gardens — the site's "Visit Us" section links to a purchase page for admission. Specific admission prices are not stated in the material available here, so confirm current rates on the official Plan Your Visit page before you go.

How to plan the visit

1. Pick a day that isn't Monday. The gardens are currently closed Mondays.
2. Arrive with enough time to walk both areas. The exhibit spans Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens, so a rushed visit will cut the exhibit short.
3. Buy admission before or on arrival. Use the admission purchase link on the site's Visit Us section.
4. Confirm current hours and prices. Hours are seasonal and the posted schedule can change; the Plan Your Visit page is the authoritative source.

Common questions

Do I need a separate ticket for the dinosaurs? No. The exhibit is included with admission.

Is it indoors? No. It runs along garden trails and forest paths, so it is an outdoor, walking experience. Weather and footwear matter.

How long is it running? May 19 through October 25.

Where exactly is it? Across Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens — two adjacent properties, both part of the same visit.

Is it suitable for young children? The material describes life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, which move. That is generally a draw for children, but the walk covers a fair amount of ground across two properties, so strollers and pacing are worth considering.

Dow Gardens exists as a public botanical garden because the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation treats it as its signature annual gift, sharing the family estate with the Midland community and visitors from across Michigan. In practical terms, the Foundation is the philanthropic source behind the garden, and Dow Gardens is the most visible expression of that giving.

The Foundation's Role

According to Dow Gardens' own site, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation provides grants to qualifying organizations for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. Those grants are directed toward the public benefaction of:

• Residents of the City of Midland
• The people of the State of Michigan

The Foundation describes its signature gift each year as Dow Gardens itself — the mechanism by which the family estate is shared with the community and its visitors.

What This Means for Visitors

Because the garden is framed as a philanthropic gift rather than a purely commercial attraction, the relationship shapes how the property is presented:

Why the Distinction Matters

If you are trying to understand who runs or supports Dow Gardens, the answer is that the Foundation's grantmaking mission and the garden's public role are linked by design. The Foundation's stated purposes — religious, charitable, scientific, literary, educational — are broader than the garden alone, but the garden is the gift the Foundation highlights each year.

For visitors, this context explains the garden's public orientation: it is a 110-acre botanical haven presented as a shared family estate, with admission and planning details handled through the garden's own visit pages rather than through the Foundation.

Dow Gardens is currently open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 6:30 PM, and admission is required — you purchase admission through the official site rather than simply walking in. This guide covers what you need to arrange before you go, based on the information Dow Gardens publishes on its own homepage and planning pages. It applies to anyone planning a first visit, a return trip, or an event at the gardens.

Start With the Basics

The homepage lists the essential visit details under a "Visit Us" heading:

Note that the published hours are the current schedule. Seasonal hours at botanical gardens commonly change, so confirm the day and time on the site before you travel rather than relying on this snapshot.

Plan Your Visit Page

The site routes most planning questions through a single "Plan Your Visit" page (linked as "Plan Your Visit" and "Learn More →" from the homepage). Use it to check:

• Current hours and any closures
• Admission details and how to purchase
• Directions and on-site logistics

If you only have time for one page before your trip, this is the one.

What's On Right Now

Dow Gardens runs rotating exhibits alongside its permanent landscapes. One currently promoted exhibit is Dinosaurs Around the World:

• Ten life-sized animatronic dinosaurs
• Located across Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens
• Runs May 19 through October 25
• Explored along garden trails and forest paths
• Included with admission — no separate ticket needed

Because exhibits rotate, check the homepage or Plan Your Visit page for what's showing during your dates.

Ways to Get More Out of the Trip

Beyond a standard self-guided walk, the site lists several ways to engage:

• Tours — guided options are listed under the planning section
• Private Events — the gardens can be booked for private occasions
• Volunteer / Get Involved — for those who want to contribute time rather than just visit

Each of these has its own page linked from the main planning area, so follow the specific link for requirements and scheduling.

A Note on the Setting

Dow Gardens is the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow family estate, and the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation supports it as its signature annual gift — sharing the estate with the community and visitors. That context explains why the grounds combine formal horticultural displays (flower beds) with more natural features (forest paths), and why Whiting Forest is treated as part of the same visit.

Quick Pre-Visit Checklist

1. Confirm today's hours on the site (Tuesday–Sunday, 9 AM–6:30 PM as currently listed).
2. Purchase admission in advance through the "Purchase Admission" link.
3. Check whether a special exhibit is running and whether it's included (the dinosaur exhibit is included with admission).
4. Review the Plan Your Visit page for directions and any day-specific notes.
5. Decide whether you want a tour, and book it if so.

The main pitfall is assuming the gardens are open daily — the published schedule starts on Tuesday, so a Monday visit would not work under current hours.

Dow Gardens is a 110-acre botanical garden and horticultural landscape in Midland, Michigan, built on the former Dow family estate and supported by the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. It is open to the public as a seasonal destination where you can walk flower beds, forest paths, and the adjoining Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens. It is worth a visit if you want a self-paced outdoor garden experience rather than a single indoor attraction.

Where it is and what it is

Dow Gardens sits in Midland, Michigan, and describes itself as a place where "nature and horticulture blend seamlessly." The 110-acre site includes:

• Vibrant flower beds and cultivated garden areas
• Tranquil forest paths
• Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens, a connected forest property

The garden's own framing is seasonal: the site invites visitors to "experience the changing seasons" across its landscapes, so what you see depends heavily on when you go.

Who runs it and why it exists

The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation provides grants for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes benefiting the people of Midland and the State of Michigan. Its signature gift each year is Dow Gardens, which the Foundation describes as sharing the family estate with the community and its visitors. In practical terms, that means the garden operates as a public-facing cultural and horticultural asset rather than a private estate.

What you can see and do

Current hours

Dow Gardens is currently open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM until 6:30 PM, according to the site's "Visit Us" section. If you are planning around a specific day, check the site before you go, since hours can change by season.

Seasonal exhibits

A current example of programming is "Dinosaurs Around the World," which brings ten life-sized animatronic dinosaurs to Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens starting May 19 and running through October 25. The exhibit is set along garden trails and forest paths, and it is included with admission.

Planning and access

The site routes visitors through a "Plan Your Visit" page, with separate pages for private events, tours, and volunteering. Admission is a purchase step — the homepage links to "Purchase Admission" — so plan to buy admission rather than assuming free entry.

Is it worth visiting?

Choose Dow Gardens if you want:

• A multi-hour outdoor walk through designed gardens and forest
• A family-friendly seasonal exhibit (like the dinosaur installation) included with admission
• A destination tied to Midland's local history and the Dow family legacy

Look elsewhere if you want a quick indoor stop or a strictly structured, guided experience — the garden is primarily a self-directed landscape, with tours available as a separate option.

Before you go

• Confirm current hours and days on the official site, since the garden is not open every day.
• Check whether a seasonal exhibit is running during your dates.
• Expect to purchase admission; the site does not present entry as free.
• Use the "Plan Your Visit" page for logistics, and the tours or private events pages if you want something more organized.