Written/Reported by Wei Ruyu
Did you know? The world’s first T-Rex fossil was discovered in Montana, USA, in 1902. The earliest known record of dinosaur parenting also comes from Montana. The Dinosaur Egg Hill where fossil excavation took place in the movie "Jurassic Park" is also located in Montana. In addition, fossils of Triceratops, Troodon, Dromaeosaurus, and various species of Hadrosaurs have been found here. As a result, Montana can be considered the main dinosaur-producing region of the Late Cretaceous period (80 to 65 million years ago). The state’s 15 dinosaur museums not only house a wealth of historical materials and replicas but also offer the public the chance to touch precious fossils that are millions of years old.
Montana is a highly representative destination for exploring the rich history of dinosaurs. (Image provided by the Asia-Pacific Office of the Montana State Government, USA)
Huang Daduo, Director of the Tianlong Science Popularization International Foundation — which has partnered multiple times with the Asia-Pacific Office of the Montana State Government to lead the public in Montana to excavate and learn about dinosaur fossils — and also Chairman of the Chinese Lapidary Geoscience Association, recommends several must-visit dinosaur museums. These include the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman and the Makoshika Dinosaur Museum in the small town of Glendive, as well as Fort Peck. He says the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University is the current leader in dinosaur studies and an unmissable pilgrimage site. The museum boasts an extremely rich collection of dinosaur specimens and very vivid displays. Meanwhile, the Makoshika Dinosaur Museum and Makoshika State Park in Glendive make the perfect duo for understanding the dinosaurs of the very late Cretaceous period (Hell Creek Formation). The former showcases abundant local dinosaur samples, while the latter serves as an open-air museum, complementing each other perfectly. As for Fort Peck, it features a beautifully scenic reservoir and a nearby dinosaur exhibition and education center where fossils were unearthed.
Stamp your prehistoric passport with dinosaur museum seals to receive wonderful gifts. (Image provided by the Asia-Pacific Office of the Montana State Government, USA)
Additionally, Montana’s 15 dinosaur museums have jointly launched a Prehistoric Passport. In addition to introducing the highlights and related activities of each museum, visitors who collect stamps from dinosaur museums within five years of purchase can redeem a limited-edition Dinosaur Trail T-shirt. Museum staff also noted that although the dinosaur excavation site at Fort Peck is no longer open to the public, it is still included in the dinosaur passport. The interpretation center at the Fort Peck Dinosaur Museum can help visitors get their passport stamped.
Professor Huang Daduo said that after the snow melts and the mud dries up, summer is the best season to search for dinosaur fossils in Montana. He strongly encourages those interested in dinosaurs, geology, and paleontology to go beyond movies and exhibitions and experience field trips where they can learn how to find dinosaur fossils firsthand. By touching and identifying them, they can turn dinosaurs into tangible knowledge and experiences in their lives — a truly special and rare journey.
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