Description: The western facet of the Dinosaur Diamond is especially rich in dinosaur finds. The Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry has supplied bones to museums all over the world. More recently, sites in the Cedar Mountain Formation have yielded 10 new species of dinosaurs in the past 20 years. Among these, the Utahraptor bears a striking resemblance to the Velociraptor of 'Jurassic Park.'
The CEU Prehistory Museum is packed with information about the area's dinosaur discoveries. Even if you have only a passing interest in dinosaurs, this museum is well worth a visit. There are more dinosaur skeletons displayed here than in most big-city museums.
A self guided tour brochure available at the Information Desk will guide you through the Hall of Dinosaurs. In all, there are 9 skeletons, including an Allosaurus (Utah's State Vertebrate Fossil), a Stegosaurus, a Utahraptor and a Gastonia Burgei (a 'new' armored dinosaur found in the same quarry as the Utahraptor). Full sized displays of dinosaur feet show the types of footprints they created. Especially chilling were fossil dinosaur tracks left by a predator and its prey. Although the trail begins with two sets of tracks, it ends with only one.
The Hall of Man displays artifacts of the Fremont Indian culture which are nearly 1000 years old. There is a replica of a Fremont pithouse and a more modern Ute Indian tipi. A Columbian Mammoth skeleton, found by a construction crew in the nearby mountains in 1998 is posed realistically at one end of the Hall. Nearby is a skeleton of a Giant Sloth.
We spent more than on hour studying the exhibits. On our way out, the CEU students at the Information Desk asked us how we had enjoyed our visit. It was clear that they loved their jobs and their pride in the museum was inspiring. I noticed a basket containing casts of dinosaur tracks. Wanting a small souvenir, I asked 'How much?.' 'They're free, but you have to pass a test,' came the reply. Relying on my new knowledge from the museum visit, I correctly identified it as a plant eater and was able to give a rationale for my answer. Visit this museum and you will be able to pass the test too!
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