Dinosaurs, Fossils, & the Wild West

Passing through the fields and prairies of Montana, you would never know that millions of years ago dinosaurs and other creatures dominated the landscape. They appear to the naked eye as rolling hills filled with grasses and grain fields, but it is really much more under the surface. Some of the world’s best preserved dinosaur fossils have been discovered in northeastern Montana. So much so, that they have created a Dinosaur Trail comprised of 14 locations where you can view the fossils that have been recovered from the surrounding area. The Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and the Phillips County Museum in the town of Malta are 2 of the stops on that trail.

Arriving at the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum, I was greeted by three colorful statues guiding me to the entrance. They are playful in the coloring and grab your attention, but I am not sure the colors are accurate. However, since their true colors are really unknown, this is as good a guess as any. Once inside the building, you meet Giffen, Montana’s first scientifically collected Stegosaurus, Ralph, the first Camarasaurus found in Montana, Roberta, a duck billed dinosaur, Leonardo, a Brachylophosaurus recognized as the most complete “mummy” dinosaur in the world, and Herb, a cast of a Triceratops skeleton made up from three different finds in Montana and one find in Wyoming. The original fossils are on display in New York City.

Along with the cast of characters above, there are many other fossils of leaves, lobsters, crabs, and other sea creatures. Some finds are only teeth or single bones, but they all contribute to a better understanding of ancient life. They are all interesting in their own way, but I found the details in the plant and marine fossils drew me in to look closer. Maybe it’s the smaller size of them, or that they are complete that helps.

They have a kids corner that is very interactive that is a great way to learn about the dinosaurs and paleontology. As part of the museum, they offer field work opportunities where you can go out on digs and help find new discoveries.

The Dinosaur Museum shares a parking lot with the Phillips County Museum. It is the home of Elvis, a duck billed dinosaur, who was found in a hillside in Phillips County in 1994, and is 95% complete, an incredible percentage for a dinosaur. With Elvis are other fossils of marine and plant life. The starfish, the insect, and large stone with multiple stems and flowers were particularly intriguing. They even have a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton exhibited next to Elvis too. Also in this museum are different rocks, agates and meteorites on display, and with them were small round stone concreations about the size of golf balls like the ones we saw in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but much, much smaller. It is somewhat mysterious how they form, but as water seeps into the soil, there is a mineral reaction that forms them in a spherical shape.

Walking around the museum, I saw displays of Native American history and handicrafts. The headdresses, leather moccasins, clothing, arrows, and war hammers are mostly from around 1900, and the Native American culture is integral to the history of this area. Likewise are the cowboys and outlaws, the Wild West. In the next section I saw exhibits of the cattle brands, barb wire variations, tools, ropes and lariats they used. There is a section showcasing the outlaw Kid Curry, who was infamous in these parts and ran with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for awhile. There are even taxidermy displays of the local wildlife showcased on a ledge above your head.

All in all it was a good stop, even though it came about because of a miscommunication between Tom and me. I thought he wanted to see it and he thought I wanted to see it, when in reality, neither of us had a strong interest in them. I am glad I stopped because I saw some cool things and learned some interesting history.

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