National Draw a Dinosaur Day (January 30th)

Quick facts
When is it?	Every January 30th
It's also known as:	Draw a Dinosaur Day
Tagged as:	Animals Art & Crafts Historical Interest Hobbies & Activities
What are the hashtags?	#DinosaurArt #DinosaurDrawing #DinoDraw #DinoArt #CreativeKids #ArtChallenge #NationalDrawaDinosaurDay #DrawaDinosaurDay
When was it founded?	2007
Who founded it?	Todd Page
We first published this page on:	Sep 30th, 2022
We last updated this page:	Jan 4th, 2026

Contents

Over the years, adults and children alike have fallen in love with the imagination, fantasy and history that comes along with dinosaurs.

From visiting museums to see their bones and fossils, to watching recreations of them in films and television shows, dinosaurs have been a fascination since their bones were first discovered in the 17th century – and at first no one could even guess what they really were!

Today, National Draw a Dinosaur Day offers a full range of fun ideas for celebrating this creature from the past that is not only enormous in physical size but also holds a large place in the hearts of so many humans today.

National Draw a Dinosaur Day Timeline

1677

First Dinosaur Bone Described

Naturalist Robert Plot describes and publishes the first known illustration of a dinosaur bone, though he misidentifies it as belonging to a giant human.[1]

1824

Dinosaurs Scientifically Named

Geologist William Buckland formally describes Megalosaurus, marking the first time a dinosaur is named and classified as a prehistoric reptile.[2]

1842

“Dinosauria” Coined

Sir Richard Owen introduced the term “Dinosauria” to describe the distinct group of ancient reptiles following analysis of several fossil discoveries.[3]

1911

Dinosaur Drawings Enter Popular Education

Charles R. Knight’s illustrations of dinosaurs, commissioned for museums, help define the way dinosaurs are visualized and taught to the public.[4]

1993

Jurassic Park Popularizes Dinosaur Art

The film “Jurassic Park” uses groundbreaking visual effects to realistically depict dinosaurs, inspiring a new era of dinosaur illustration and interest.

How to Celebrate National Draw a Dinosaur Day

Kids of all ages (even the adults who are kids at heart) can have tons of fun celebrating National Draw a Dinosaur Day! Get inspired by some of these ideas for celebrating the day:

Draw a Dinosaur, Obviously

When the instructions are in the name, it’s a really good day because everyone knows what to do! The first order of business is to get out that pad of paper with a pencil or markers and start drawing up some dinosaurs. Perhaps get even more creative and try a hand at some watercolors, acrylics or oil paints. Or, in a fun twist of events, get out on that pavement or driveway with some sidewalk chalk and draw a huge colorful dinosaur in honor of National Draw a Dinosaur Day!

Those who are teachers or parents can certainly take this one step further and be sure to not only draw a dinosaur themselves, but encourage the children in their care to draw one too. Expressing the arts and creativity is an important part of brain development as it can promote higher functioning and even increase serotonin levels. Remember, the critique of the art piece is not important – it’s much more important that they have fun.

And if a child wants to draw something other than a dinosaur on National Draw a Dinosaur Day? Well, that’s perfectly fine as well!

Watch a Dinosaur Movie for Inspiration

Whether it’s just watching a little dinosaur cartoon or show with the kids for inspiration (think Barney) or getting into a full-fledged live action dinosaur movie, National Draw a Dinosaur Day is a great time to grab a sketch pad and draw what is seen on the television. Here are some movies to consider:

Dinosaur (2000). This Disney animated film is a live-action, computer animated flick that tells the story of a lone, orphaned dinosaur left to be raised by lemurs.
The Land Before Time (1988). Children of the eighties will remember this beloved family animated movie which features the journey of several dinosaurs trying to get back home. It’s a fun story and also gives some basic animated dinosaurs to try to copy when drawing.
Jurassic Park Series. Starting in 1993 and moving into more recent versions brought to life by Chris Pratt, the Jurassic Park films move all the way into 2022 and beyond, with at least six different dinosaur themed films.
Land of the Lost (2009). This comedy sci-fi movie starring Will Ferrell is a remake of the 1970s series of the same name, and the movie features a variety of inspirational dinosaurs that would be perfect for sketching and drawing.

Take a Drawing Class

Not feeling super equipped when it comes to trying to draw a dinosaur in honor of National Draw a Dinosaur Day? That’s okay! There is plenty of time to learn and it may even become a fun hobby. In fact, learning to draw might even be part of the joy of celebrating the day. Perhaps this day would be a great time to enroll in an art or drawing class, given by a local artist or at a community college, where the skills of a sketch artist can be developed under the tutelage of a professional.

Visit a Museum with Dinosaurs

Perhaps watching a movie doesn’t offer quite enough inspiration and a better way to go about it would be to visit some museums that contain actual dinosaur bones! A little online search can reveal which museums are the closest locally, but here are some of the most famous dinosaur museums that are worth visiting in places all over the world:

Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, USA. This museum is famous for its giant friend, Sue, who greets visitors proudley as the largest Tyrannosaurus in the world. This natural history museum features dinosaurs from distances such as Madagascar and Antarctica.
Museum of Natural History (Museum fur Naturkunde) in Berlin, Germany. Housing the bones of the tallest dinosaur in the world, this museum has a huge collection, particularly of dinosaur bones from Tanzania.
Zigong Dinosaur Museum in Zigong, China. Situated directly on top of an actual fossil site, this museum provides visitors with an up-close and personal view of a dinosaur fossil excavation site.
Jurassic Land in Istanbul, Turkey. One of the largest theme parks in Europe, Jurassic Land offers fun with dinosaurs on a more experiential level where it mixes dinosaur fossils and skeletons with animatronics, and it even includes egg incubators.

National Draw a Dinosaur Day FAQs

Were dinosaurs real?

Yes! Dinosaurs were very real creatures that roamed the earth millions of years ago.[1]

Can dinosaurs be brought back?

It is unlikely that dinosaurs could be cloned and brought back to life as their DNA is too old and broken down over time. [2]

Did dinosaurs have feathers?

Some dinosaurs are believed to have feathers, particularly in one branch that is distantly related to birds. [3]

When did dinosaurs go extinct?

Dinosaurs went extinct approximately 65 million years ago.[4]

Did dinosaurs lay eggs?

Researchers believe that dinosaurs laid eggs similar to the way most reptiles do. [5]

History of National Draw a Dinosaur Day

National Draw a Dinosaur Day was founded in 2007 when a student named Todd Page began doodling during a boring anthropology class. After he realized how fun his own drawings of dinosaurs were, he encouraged his fellow classmates to do the same and the rest is ancient history!

Today, National Draw a Dinosaur Day offers people the reminder that there is more to life than just the moment that is present in front of our eyes. Sometimes, it takes some imagination, combined with a little bit of past history, to produce something creative, unique and also tons of fun!

Facts About Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs were not just giant, roaring reptiles from movies—they were an incredibly diverse group of animals that lived for over 160 million years. From brightly colored feathers to bird-like parenting behaviors, modern science continues to reshape what we know about these ancient creatures.

Earliest Dinosaur Discoveries

The first scientifically recognized dinosaur fossils were discovered in the early 19th century, with Megalosaurus being named and described in 1824. Before this, large fossilized bones were often misidentified as belonging to giants or other mythical creatures.
Dinosaur Coloration and Patterns

Recent studies suggest some dinosaurs had complex coloration and feather patterns, rather than the dull, greenish hues often depicted in popular media. Analysis of fossilized melanosomes provides evidence that dinosaurs like Anchiornis had vibrant colors, such as black, white, and reddish-brown.
The Extinction Event

Dinosaurs went extinct approximately 66 million years ago due to a mass extinction event caused by a massive asteroid impact near present-day Chicxulub, Mexico. This event drastically changed Earth’s climate and ecosystems, leading to the extinction of about 75% of all species at the time.
Dinosaur Eggs and Nesting Behavior

Fossil evidence shows that many dinosaurs built nests and cared for their eggs, similar to modern birds. Some sites, like those uncovered in the Gobi Desert, reveal organized nesting colonies indicating complex reproductive behavior.
Birds as Living Dinosaurs

Modern birds are directly descended from small, theropod dinosaurs, making them the only surviving lineage of the dinosaur group. This connection is supported by both fossil evidence and comparative anatomy, including similarities in bones, feathers, and brooding behaviors.
Dinosaur Sizes Varied Greatly

While popular culture often focuses on enormous species like Tyrannosaurus rex or Brachiosaurus, many dinosaurs were the size of chickens or small dogs. For example, Microceratus was less than two feet long and weighed only a few pounds.