Dinosaur Park (Prince George's County, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dinosaur Park |
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Outdoor excavation on an exposed portion of the Arundel clays at Dinosaur Park at Laurel, Maryland, U.S.
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| Location | 13200 block of Mid-Atlantic Boulevard, near Laurel, Maryland and Muirkirk, Maryland |
| Area | 41 acres |
| Created | October 26, 2009 |
| Operated by | Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Open | Fenced area is open first and third Saturdays of each month. |
| Status | Garden area is open year round. |
Dinosaur Park is an amazing place in Maryland where you can explore the world of ancient dinosaurs! It's located near Laurel and Muirkirk. This park is special because it lets visitors join real scientists in looking for Cretaceous period fossils. Imagine digging up bones and teeth that are millions of years old!
The park also has a beautiful garden with plants and signs that teach you about the area's history. Dinosaur Park is built right where some of the first dinosaur fossils in Maryland were found. These included teeth and bones from a dinosaur called Astrodon.
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Discovering Ancient Dinosaurs
Long ago, in the 1700s and 1800s, people in Prince George's County mined clay from a place called the Muirkirk Deposit. They were looking for a type of iron ore called siderite. This ore was melted down to make iron and steel for buildings and tools.
In 1858, something incredible happened. African-American miners working in these open pits found strange bones. These were the very first dinosaur fossils ever discovered in Maryland!
Early Fossil Hunters
Scientists soon became interested in these finds. One of the first was Phillip Thomas Tyson, a Maryland state geologist. In 1859, he showed some of the bones to other scientists. They quickly realized these were from dinosaurs!
Another famous paleontologist, Othniel Charles Marsh, also wanted to study Maryland fossils. In 1887, he sent his assistant, John Bell Hatcher, to the iron mines. Hatcher found hundreds of fossils, including parts of ancient turtles and crocodiles. Later, in the 1890s, scientists from the Smithsonian Institution, like Charles Gilmore and Arthur Bibbins, also visited. They found more dinosaur teeth and other fossils, which are now part of the Smithsonian's collection.
What Makes Dinosaur Park Special?
In 1995, a group called the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission bought 22 acres of land near Laurel. This land included several spots where the ancient Muirkirk Deposit was exposed. The main goal of Dinosaur Park is to protect these important fossil sites. It stops buildings from being built on them and prevents people from collecting fossils without permission.
The park also serves as an outdoor laboratory. This means you can work alongside professional and amateur paleontologists. Together, you help uncover clues about Earth's ancient past!
Explore the Park Today
Dinosaur Park offers a unique chance to be a real fossil hunter. The fenced area is open on the first and third Saturdays of each month. This is when you can join experts and volunteers to search for fossils. It's a hands-on adventure!
If you can't make it on those specific days, don't worry! The park's interpretive garden is open all year round. You can walk through it, learn about the plants, and read signs that explain the history of the area and its amazing dinosaur discoveries. It's a great way to connect with science and history.
