Wyoming Dinosaur Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1995 |
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| Location | 110 Carter Ranch Rd. Thermopolis, Wyoming, United States |
| Type | Nonprofit |
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is a cool museum in Thermopolis, Wyoming. It's special because you can visit real dinosaur dig sites nearby! Inside, you'll see amazing fossils, including a rare Archaeopteryx fossil. It's one of only two real ones outside of Europe!
Just a short drive from the museum, on Warm Springs Ranch, are many dig sites. Over 10,000 dinosaur bones have been found here! Most of these bones are now on display or stored at the museum. One famous dig site is called "Something Interesting" (SI). Here, scientists found both dinosaur footprints and bones. They found tracks from huge plant-eaters like Sauropods and fierce Allosaurus. They also found bones from Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Apatosaurus. Many of the bones belong to a young Camarasaurus that was eaten by many Allosaurs. You can tell because there are tooth and claw marks on the bones. Plus, over 100 Allosaur teeth were found nearby!
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Explore Dinosaur Dig Sites
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center has many exciting dig sites. Each site has its own unique discoveries!
Famous Dig Sites
- "Foot Site" (FS): This site has parts of at least three young diplodocid dinosaurs. Their hands and feet are still connected, which is very rare!
- "There You Are" (TYA): Here, scientists found bones from several Allosaurs.
- "Above There You Are" (ATYA): This newer site seems to have the bones of a single, very young Diplodocid.
- "Beside Sauropod" (BS): This is one of the oldest sites, active for over 20 years. More than 1,800 bones have been found here! It includes at least six Camarasaurs and part of an Apatosaur. Many Allosaur teeth have also been found.
There are many other dig sites around the property, like "Don't Fall" and "Bone Bed." Most of the bones found belong to four main types of dinosaurs: Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, or Allosaurus.
When to Visit the Dig Sites
The dig sites are closed in winter. But during the summer (late May to mid-September), you can see active digging every day, if the weather is good!
Amazing Dinosaur Collections and Exhibits
The museum is open all year. It has a huge gallery with over 50 dinosaur skeletons.
Giant Skeletons and More
- Supersaurus: See a full skeleton of Supersaurus vivianae! This replica is 106 feet long. It's based on "Jimbo," the most complete Supersaurus ever found.
- Other Dinosaurs: You'll also see a T rex, Triceratops, Medusaceratops, and different types of Hadrosaurs, Stegosaurs, and Allosaurs.
- Camarasaurus: One of the newest additions is an almost complete Camarasaurus skeleton. It was found right on the museum's property by staff and visitors over 20 years!
The museum also has real and replica marine reptiles (sea creatures) and flying reptiles. You can even see fossils from before and after the dinosaurs, like ancient fish and invertebrates. Newer displays include fossils of camels, horses, rodents, and sabretooth cat-like animals called nimravids.
See Scientists at Work
The museum has a special lab where staff and visitors clean, fix, and save fossils. You can watch them work on bones found at the museum's sites and from other places!
Fun Programs: Dig for Dinosaurs!
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center offers many programs where you can help dig up dinosaurs!
- Dig for the Day: This program starts in late May. It's for families and individuals who want to learn about paleontology (the study of fossils). The day starts at 8 AM and finishes at 5 PM. Any fossils you find stay at the museum for science and research.
- Kids' Dig: Throughout the summer, children aged 8 to 12 can join the Kids' Dig. They learn everything the museum does! Kids get to dig, work in the lab cleaning bones, and even learn how to make molds and casts of fossils.
- Other Programs: The museum also offers Dinosaur Academy, Senior Activities, and a Paleo Prep program.
Gallery
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A fossil sea turtle on display
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A pair of replica Othnielia spar
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Excavations at the 'Beside Sauropod' Quarry
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A replica Mymoorapelta on display
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A fossil turtle from the Green River Formation in southwestern Wyoming
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A replica Gastonia on display
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A replica Lystrosaurus on display
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