New Display features dinosaurs found on public lands

Story by Greg Liggett, Geologist (Paleontology), Montana/Dakotas State Office;

Photos by Sarah Holm, Public Affairs Specialist, Montana/Dakotas State Office

Every visitor to the Montana/Dakotas State Office in Billings passes through the foyer with a large built-in exhibit case. It’s the perfect opportunity to work with a partner to promote public lands.

The Museum of the Rockies, part of Montana State University in Bozeman, developed a stunning exhibit on fossils from public land. It features four complete skulls of prehistoric beasts, parts of a fifth skull, and educational text panels. The specimens are high-quality casts.

The beasts featured are: Allosaurus, the meat-eating dinosaur from the Jurassic Period; Brachylophosaurus and Edmontosaurus, “duckbilled” dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous; Triceratops, the Late Cretaceous horned dinosaur; and Edgarosaurus, a marine reptile from the Late Cretaceous. All the fossils featured were collected from BLM land in Montana and Wyoming.

The exhibit highlights that fossils are the only evidence of prehistoric life, and encourages people to take pride in how their fossils--public fossils--contribute to scientific research and displays in museums around the country.

The new exhibit was will educate visitors to the state office for several years to come.