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Dinosaur
National Monument
Quarry
Building - Taken By Utah Outdoor Activities
Dinosaur National Monument protects a large
deposit of fossil dinosaur bones--remains of the so-called "terrible
lizards" that lived millions of years ago. The dinosaurs weren't
really lizards, and most of them weren't even terrible. But some of the
first dinosaur fossils ever found were huge bones and teeth, very
lizard-like except for their size, and so the idea of monstrous lizards
was born. Today, many ideas about dinosaurs are changing, and the fossils
at Dinosaur National Monument continue to help us learn more about these
fascinating animals.
The fossils that give the monument its name
were discovered in 1909 by Earl Douglass. He was a paleontologist (a
scientist who studies prehistoric life) who worked for the Carnegie Museum
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Douglass knew that some of the rocks in
northeastern Utah were the same kind that had produced dinosaur skeletons
elsewhere, so he went there hoping to find more bones for the museum. In
fact, he found thousands of them, and spent many years digging them up and
shipping them to Pittsburgh, where many skeletons are now on display.
President Woodrow Wilson heard about the great dinosaur quarry that
Douglass had started, and proclaimed the site as Dinosaur National
Monument in 1915. Years later, the National Park Service began to develop
the quarry as it is today. The rock layer containing the fossil bones
forms one wall of the Quarry Visitor Center. On this wall, paleontologists
have carefully chiped away the rock to uncover the bones and leave them in
place. More than 1500 fossil bones can now be seen in this unusual
exhibit.
Taken
by Utah Outdoor Activities
There are several hiking trails that will
let you experience the parks 210,000 acres. These trails will take you
through some of the most rugged and some of the most beautiful canyon
country in the west.
Camping at Dinosaur National Monument is on
a first come first serve basis. For more details click
here.
After
Your Visit To The Quarry Visitor Center Be Sure to Enjoy The Tilted Rocks Auto Tour.
For
further information on the Dinosaur National Monument click here.
Click
here for hotel reservations in Vernal UT, just minutes from Dinosaur
National Monument.
Taken
By Utah Outdoor Activities
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