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National Dinosaur Monument
Visitors' Center
near Vernal, UT
circa 1968 or 1969 |
My sister's family lived in Vernal, UT during the late 60s, and when I visited them, we went to the National Dinosaur Monument Visitors' Center and
Quarry Exhibit Hall. If the current photos I've seen online are accurate, the exterior of the building has not changed much over the years. My nephew (Dwight) and niece (Brenda) are the two children shown in front of the dinosaur sculpture.
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| photo taken in 1968 or 1969 |
What's really impressive at the Vistors' Center is the quarry exhibit hall. The center is built into the hillside not only to protect the dinosaur bones, but also to allow the massive bones can be seen by the visitors.
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| photo taken in 1968 or 1969 |
A recent
Smithsonian magazine stated the dinosaurs did not die at this location, but that their bodies were carried by the river and deposited in silt layers at the quarry site.
The quarry, visitors' center, and the surrounding area will intrigue anyone who loves geology, dinosaurs, and history.
Neat! I can't say I'm fascinated by dinosaurs in particular, but I've always loved history, and working in the inlaws' business (water well drilling) has created an interest in geology.
ReplyDeletevery interesting!
ReplyDeleteThe exposed fossils on the quarry wall are impressive. I'd really enjoy seeing them in person.
ReplyDeleteSo very cool that the bodies were swept downriver...Love that kind of stuff
ReplyDeleteWhen organizations take the time to do something so impressive as this it's so worth while.
ReplyDeleteLove the giant skeletons.
Jen
How interesting that the theory is that the bodies were carried downstream and deposited there. They are so huge, it's hard to imagine how that all happened. I'd like to see a simulation...like you often see on a documentary.
ReplyDeleteThe architectural style of the building says "DINOSAUR"!! Near where I live in Fort Worth there is a dry river bed with fossilized dinosaur foot prints. It looks like they just walked along leaving prints in the mud. I can never see it often enough. Great photos Nancy!!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is really neat. I've never heard of that museum before but would love to go see it now. Did they say where the dinosaurs came from?
ReplyDeleteYou can actually go see the bones! That is amazing, I definitely have to visit there!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting place. We have been to Salt Lake City a few times..but it would be wonderful to explore some more of Utah! :)
ReplyDeleteBoth the Mammoth Site at Hot Springs SD and Ashfall Fossil Beds at Royal NE show the bones as they found them. The Mammoth Site has a very nice building--but Ashfall is more the pole building type! But both are very interesting.
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