Museum Matters

Who’s afraid of an old sea monster? (at Morrison Natural...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:41:52 -0400

Who’s afraid of an old sea monster? (at Morrison Natural History Museum)

Progress on "Time Trail" behind Morrison Museum

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:40:00 -0400

Progress on "Time Trail" behind Morrison Museum

Morrison Natural History Museum director and curator Matthew...

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 13:02:15 -0400

Morrison Natural History Museum director and curator Matthew Mossbrucker inspects the museum’s newest acquisition: the cast skull and neck of an allosaur. The specimen is now on permanent display.

Learn more about fossil finds in the Morrison area today during “Backyard Discovery Day.” Bring in your curious fossil for identification, join experts for tours, help out in our Paleontology Lab, pet a living snake and participate with craft activities for kids.

Newly discovered dinosaur track from the grounds of the Morrison...

Tue, 29 May 2012 17:10:08 -0400

Newly discovered dinosaur track from the grounds of the Morrison Museum.

This is a natural cast of a hind track that is about the size of an adult human hand. The sandstone boulder that harbors the track hails from the Early Cretaceous Lytle Formation of Morrison, Colorado. It is the second dinosaur species to be found from the area in strata this age.

On first impression, Dr. Bob Bakker (who found the track) thought that the track maker was a carnivorous theropod, but our director Matt Mossbrucker sees some plant-eating ornithopod characters. We’ll keep you posted.

Join us for ‘DINOSAUR DAY’ today (5/26/2012) until...

Sat, 26 May 2012 13:04:35 -0400

Join us for ‘DINOSAUR DAY’ today (5/26/2012) until five this afternoon. Please use the Morrison Exit at US-285 today in order to avoid graduation traffic at Red Rocks.

IT HAS ARRIVED! Our director & chief curator Matthew...

Sun, 20 May 2012 13:01:32 -0400

IT HAS ARRIVED!

Our director & chief curator Matthew Mossbrucker has gently unpacked our new allosaur skull - along with lower jaw and partial neck - for permanent display at the museum. This skull represents a local dinosaur species that still remains a mystery some 134 years after its discovery at Morrison, Colorado.

Nearly two years ago, Mossbrucker discovered part of an allosaur jaw in Jurassic beds near Morrison. He nicknamed the specimen in honor of his son, Owen, who was celebrating his sixth birthday that same day. Since then, museum volunteer Doug Hartshorn found more of the allosaur skull.

Morrison Museum staff hopes that the allosaur skull bones will help to shed light on the “King of the Jurassic” - as these are the first diagnostic allosaur remains from Morrison.

“A handful of teeth were collected in the late 1870s, but teeth are not useful in discerning allosaur species.” remarks Mossbrucker, “a beaten-up, partial lower leg bone was recognized more than a decade ago, but again, it was not helpful in broadening our understanding of our local Jurassic apex predator.”

Mossbrucker and crew look forward to cleaning the allosaur skull material out of granite-hard sandstone. The process will take at least two years.

“In the end, we aim to refine our understanding of this fascinating Late Jurassic ecosystem,” noted Mossbrucker.

This wonderful cast was made possible by the generous donations of the Rudy and Alice Ramsey Family Foundation, T Caneer, John Sunesen, and generous museum visitors.

The cast allosaur skull will go on display during ‘Dinosaur Day’ Saturday May 26. The museum is open at ten daily. An element from Owen the Allosaur’s skull can be viewed in the Paleontology Lab as a part of daily museum tours at the Morrison Natural History Museum.

On April 28, 1982 the local dinosaur Stegosaurus was made the...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:06:12 -0400

On April 28, 1982 the local dinosaur Stegosaurus was made the Colorado State Fossil thanks to plucky elementary school kids and Governor Richard Lamm.

Today, the first bones of Stegosaurus are on display at the Morrison Natural History Museum along with a large collection of Stegosaurus tracks including those of babies. Research is still ongoing on these bones and tracks.

To honor Colorado’s State Fossil, the Morrison Natural History Museum is hosting “Stegosaurus Day,” a special event that features specialized tours and activities to celebrate our favorite local dinosaur.

Come in and help us work on the Stegosaurus fossils and sign the preparation registry!

Join in on hourly tours, fossil track cast s for kids, dinosaur coloring station, pet a living native reptile and assist with the cleaning of fossils in the Paleo Lab.

Regular admission charged. No additional fees for programming or activities. The museum will open at regular time, 10:00 a.m. and will stop taking tickets at 4:00 in the afternoon.

With tomorrow being a furlough day for Jefferson County Schools,...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:17:42 -0400

With tomorrow being a furlough day for Jefferson County Schools, are you looking for something to do, with the family? MNHM’s daily (or self-guided) tours are a great way to learn about local paleontology with some hands on learning as well!

To honor Colorado’s State Fossil, the Morrison Natural...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:17:31 -0400

To honor Colorado’s State Fossil, the Morrison Natural History Museum is hosting “Stegosaurus Day,” a special event that features specialized tours and activities to celebrate our favorite local dinosaur.

Come in and help us work on the Stegosaurus fossils and sign the preparation registry!

MNHM would like to thank Jennifer Anderson for serving as our...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:32:10 -0400

MNHM would like to thank Jennifer Anderson for serving as our Foundation President over the last four years. Pictured is Jennifer receiving a Town Recognition for her service over the years. Though Jennifer will not be sitting on the board as President, she will still have a key role in future endeavors here at MNHM.

What’s new at MNHM this Spring? New toys, of course! This...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:44:41 -0400

What’s new at MNHM this Spring? New toys, of course! This guy is a hit so far!

Volunteer Open House Today

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:54:14 -0500

Volunteer Open House Today: If you have a passion for paleontology, you’ll fit right in at the...

Is there a “dino-maniac” in your life that has a...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:47:29 -0500

Is there a “dino-maniac” in your life that has a birthday coming up? Our two-hour long birthday program consists of an hour-long Museum tour with hands-on demonstrations with short discussions about local fossils, rocks, and reptiles. Participants touch real and cast fossils, pet a snake, chip stone from dinosaur bone, paint a small cast of a dinosaur track, and more.

Coming to MNHM in February - Volunteer Open House! If...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:16:16 -0500

Coming to MNHM in February - Volunteer Open House! If you’ve ever inquired with us about our volunteer opportunities, this is the time to stop by and get a “behind the scenes” look at our volunteer program here at MNHM! Join us from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM on Saturday, February 25, 2012. Space is limited so please RSVP to info@mnhm.org.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, friends. MNHM is open today,...

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:09:07 -0500

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, friends. MNHM is open today, come on in and get a hands on lesson in local fossils!

Three hundred million years ago, this femur was living tissue...

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:55:31 -0500

Three hundred million years ago, this femur was living tissue inside a Dimetrodon - a distant ancestor to all of us. Look closely at the bone. You’ll notice light scratches perpendicular to the shaft of the bone. Any guess what these marks are, and what they were made by?

Morrison Museum: Big in Holland. Watch this Sunday 21:25 Dutch...

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:19:00 -0500

Morrison Museum: Big in Holland.

Watch this Sunday 21:25 Dutch tv Ned 2 (or on the internet) “O’Hanlons Heroes, The Bonewars.” Researched & produced by Ilja Willems.

MNHM Staff Robert T. Bakker (pictured left) and Matthew Mossbrucker (not pictured at all) toured writer and adventurer Redmond O’Hanlon (pictured, right) and his VPRO crew around Morrison’s Jurassic digs a few months back. Between Dr. Bob’s shenanigan’s and Matt’s hickory-smoked dino-chickens, this is must see Dutch TV.

Looking for great stocking stuffers for the dinosaur lover in...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:29:16 -0500

Looking for great stocking stuffers for the dinosaur lover in your life? Come on in and check out our gift shop it’s the perfect stop! Remember, all proceeds benefit the programs and collections at the museum. Happy Holidays!

The museum needs a small herd of these guys. Where does one...

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:57:00 -0500

The museum needs a small herd of these guys. Where does one purchase this little guy?

Update: Kmart-Sears. Sears is sold out online…

On a snowy Saturday such as this, I wonder about the Pleistocene...

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:04:00 -0500

On a snowy Saturday such as this, I wonder about the Pleistocene proboscideans than roamed Colorado just a few thousand years ago. Today is a good day to brave the roads and chat with me about the ancient elephants that once called Colorado home. I’ll even share our lab coffee with you.

-Matt Mossbrucker