It wasn’t obvious to us, driving the roads which cut across the wide-open crop and cattle country of Eastern Alberta and Southern Saskatchewan that if we had made this same trek a 100 million years ago, we would have needed a canoe and it would have been very hazardous across this flat landscape.
So how did we did we end up here? Seems that 12 years ago a Canadian couple we met said: “You must go visit Drumheller”! So what is Drumheller and why visit there? Well, there are a couple of reasons.
Firstly, Drumheller is a small town located in the plains of Southern Alberta where, since its opening in 1985, more than 12 million visitors from 150 countries have descended to visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum located near the town. This museum is ranked as one of the top paleontology museums in the world.
Secondly, and most important to me, Meriam wanted to visit dinosaurs – unlike most young boys, she didn’t grow up being fascinated with these large creatures.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum is located in this area because, in the Jurassic Period, the vast marshlands here supported an incredible abundance of life — including most of the dinosaurs we know of today. In 1884 a geologist named Joseph Tyrrell was working in the area and stumbled upon the skull of a 70 million-year-old dinosaur. This discovery foretold one of the world’s most productive dinosaur gravesites.
The following photographs tell all – well, not quite all since only ½ of 1 percent of all the specimens collected are on display in the museum at any one point in time.
As you can imagine, everyone and everything in the surrounding area of Drumheller must “march to the tone” of the dinosaurs. Notice this clever logo of this nearby village. The V and M of the village name help form the image of a dinosaur. Since the main crop of the area is wheat, it is only natural to make it a prominent symbol.
The multi-layered geology of the area which produces thousands of new dinosaur specimens a year. (My co-author says she can still hear them in there growling. I wonder…would they be growling, grunting, snorting or what?)
The Royal Tyrrell Museum. Not seen here is another expansion under construction.
The museum displays both authentic specimens (such as this “hand”) and exact casts of authentic specimens. Some authentic specimens are just too fragile for display (and must be protected from visitors probing hands). This hand is about 36”x20”. How would you like to wake up at night, discovering it scratching your back?
The fossil bones of this skull are extremely fragile. Casts were made of some elements and the more delicate and complex bones were digitized and 3D printed so that they could be displayed in this manner. (Notice how I was able to catch Meriam’s head in its jaws…was this on purpose)?
The bones of this juvenile Gorgosaurus are arranged as they were in life. The completeness of this specimen, and river sands it was found in suggest that immediately after the animal died, it was quickly buried at the river bottom, preventing damage to the skeleton. This is an incredibly rare fossil to remain intact!
One realizes the size of this dinosaur by comparing it to the people in the lower left. Its authentic head (the one at the bottom center) has been digitally reproduced as it sits on top of its stone encased body.
Meriam watches a young intern meticulously remove encrusted rock from around a 100 million-year-old fossil. This particular fossil has been in the “to-do” storage since 1985.
This is the oldest known dinosaur ever found in Alberta — at least 35 million years older than any of the hundreds of dinosaur fossils found in the area. This specimen is preserved three-dimensionally, encased by intact body armor, skin and horn-like tissue that covered the bony armor. Alive it weighed about 2900 lbs. The remains of its last meal are also visible. One sole researcher spent more than 7000 hours preparing it.
Not quite sure what this one is named. Judging from his tail, he must be one powerful dude!
While this photograph is quite cluttered and a little confusing, it represents a small fraction of a very large room housing dozens of huge dinosaurs. For a scale, note the size of dinosaurs to the people observing from above.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
The mural behind depicts this guy when he had flesh!
An original, fully intact skeleton, fused into solid rock.
Meriam feels a replica of the skin from 100 million-year-old dinosaur.
A Lambeosaurus lambei (as if you are really interested in his official name). This and its cousin, the Tyrannosaurs Rex, roamed the earth 76 million years ago.
The fearsome Triceratops.
A saber-toothed tiger attacks a wooly mammoth.
Dinosaurs lived on Earth for 160 million years, including every continent. Toward the end of the Cretaceous Period (66 – 144 million year ago), their diversity diminished. Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex were among the last, ruling for the final two million years of the period. The Dinosaurs Age ended 66 million years ago.
Fran.rounds@gmail.comYou really are a professor, Herr Blair! We love the photos–especially w/murals behind skeletons. Cheers!
HaroldThanks, Fran. The place was truly remarkable!
MaryThis is incredible. I will save and share with Nicholas. Glad u are home safe and sound.
HaroldMary, why don’t you drive Nicholas up there? It’s only about 1200 miles…
maoDem bones, dem dry bones gonna walk around–oh hear the words of the Lord!
HaroldSay, that sounds like it might make a great song!
Julianne S FischerReminds me of the Museum of Natural History in New York, but this museum has more attractive displays and room to show them off. Isn’t it incredible to imagine these creatures living here!
HaroldJulianne, I suspect someday their DNA will be extracted and they will appear again…Jurassic Park for real!