Visitors to the center enjoy its wide collection of fossilized animals from the late Cretaceous period. A movie in the center's theater shows how scientists dig up fossils and get them ready for display. Even better, visitors can peer through windows into the paleo lab and watch specimens being prepared.
You see, the Dinosaur Resource Center is more than just a museum. It's also part of a working paleontology business that discovers, excavates and prepares fossils for museums, universities and individual collectors all over the world. The business, called Triebold Paleontology Inc., is owned by Mike and J.J. Triebold.
couple of new species of dinosaurs are currently on display in the museum, Daspletosaurus, which means terrifying reptile, is a T. rex relative. Maltese calls him "T. rex's great grand daddy." The specimen was dug up in 2006 and work on its skeleton is progressing. Parts of the original fossil are out for viewing. The animal would have been about 35 feet long.
Many of the fossils on display, including Daspletosaurus, Thescelosaurus and a giant coelacanth from Kansas are the only ones in existence or are very rare. "We've worked on the only two giant coelacanths ever discovered," Maltese says. These "dinofish" were thought to be extinct, but it turns out that some survived in the oceans for millions of years. Another recent display is the extinct sail fish, Pentanogmius. The original is in a cabinet in the marine hall, and is one of only 3 articulated specimens of this rare fish ever discovered
A highlight of the marine exhibit is a Mosasaur, which is "kind of like a long Komodo dragon with flippers and big teeth," curator, Anthony Maltese says, "They even have teeth on the roof of their mouth." A couple of giant sea turtles, bigger then a Volkswagen Beetle, swim in the exhibit. But let's not forget everyone's favorite, the T. rex nicknamed Stan, that dwarfs everybody else. It stands 13 feet high at the hips and is 40 feet long. It's a good idea to plan return visits to the dinosaur center, because the exhibits change frequently.
Birthday Parties: This is a birthday LIKE NO OTHER! For a small price, children and adults get to enjoy a party in the company of dinosaurs. Here's how to get your party booked....Pick either the "Raptor Package" or the "T rex Package" then call us at 719-686-1820 x104 to setup your date - the Dinosaurs like to get a little cake now and then - come join us for an unforgettable day.
School Tours: With over 30 specimens and a number of hands on exhibits, your class will be given the latest dinosaur information from the people who find them! To schedule a School Tour, please call 719-686-1820 x104. School Tour must be scheduled at least 1 week in advance.
The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Center was founded by Mike and J.J. Triebold, of Triebold Paleontology Incorporated (TPI). All of the specimens contained in our exhibits are on loan from TPI.
Triebold Paleontology Inc. is an independent company that has been in operation since 1989. The company provides services for museums and individuals ranging from paleontological exploration, data collection, excavation, preparation, restoration, skeletal mounting, mold making and casting. Specimens and replica casts collected, prepared, and restored by Triebold Paleontology can be seen in museums the world over. Triebold Paleontology works with academic paleontologists to ensure the preservation of fossil specimens from North America.
Mike Triebold has been collecting fossils for more than 20 years and has been featured on The Learning Channel's "Paleoworld," the Discovery Channel's "Bone Head Detectives," Fox television specials, US News and World Report, Newsweek, National Geographic and others. Currently, Triebold Paleontology Inc. maintains two traveling exhibits, "Savage Ancient Seas" featuring marine reptiles from Kansas and "Savage Ancient World" featuring dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous (66 million years ago). RMDRC exhibits feature elements from both traveling shows. TPI operates dig sites in South Dakota, North Dakota, Kansas and Montana.
Fossils from North America's Cretacious period.
Edmontosaurus, Albertosaurus, Pteranodon, Triceratops, Champsosaur, Thescelosaur, Dromaeosaur, Xiphactinus, Pachycephalosaurus, Clidastes, Dsungaripterus, Elasmosaurus, Bactrosaurus, Pachyrhizodus, Platecarpus, Squalicorax, Toxochelys, Tylosaurus, and more.
Gallery tours given by trained Visitor Experience Guides, Summer education program to begin June 2005, occaisional lectures given by experts such as paleontologists Phil Currie, Martin Lockley, Kenneth Carpenter, and paleo artist Todd Marshall.