The Camptosaurus Is Taking On New Life

The Camptosaurus at The Prehistoric Museum, USU Eastern is taking a new stand. This pose is filled with action and adventure. The new mount portrays a life-like stance that is interesting an makes the visitor pause for thought.

All of the dinosaurs in the "dinosaur pit" are taking on a new persona. The Stegosaurus and the Camptosaurus mounts have already been stripped to expose what is real bone, and what is prefabricated material. Work on the Allosaurus will begin as soon as the Camptosaurus is finished, out of the Observation Labs and back on display. The Camarasaurus and Stegosaurus will then take their turn in the Observation Lab being repositioned into an upright, full body mounts that promise to be as exciting as the previous reconstructions.

Breathing new life into the museum has been a main goal of Dr. Kenneth Carpenter, the museum's director and paleontologist. Positioning the skeletal mounts in updated, exciting action poses has given a new dimension of visual stimulation to the museum experience. This is evident in the newly mounted Utahraptor that greets visitors in the museum lobby. Posed in the "killing stance" the Utahraptor shows just what a wicked little dino he really was!

Taking dinosaurs apart and putting them back together is not an easy task, it is tedious and incredibly time-consuming, but when you look at the final result, it is ever so worth the time and effort.

Whether you visited last year, or last week, there is bound to be something new and exciting for you to see. Stop by and check out all of the wonderful things in the works. We will be glad to see you, and we feel certain you will be delighted with the changes.

 John Bird (left) and Casey Dooms (right) working on putting the final parts of the Camptosaurus together.

 Rear view of the Camptosaurus in the Observation Lab.

 Rear foot of the Camptosaurus.

 Camptosaurus neck.

 Ossified tendons were added to this mount.

 Technicalities in putting together the Camptosaurus.

 Much like a jigsaw puzzle, the dinosaur is numbered and arranged accordingly.

 Camptosaurus without the head, front view.

Interesting view of the Camptosaurus rib cage from beneath.

 John Bird painting the Camptosaurus.

John Bird putting the finishing touches on the painting of the Camptosaurus.

Museum membership is one component that assists in creating new exhibits. For information on museum membership, contact Christine Trease (435) 613-5757 or christine.trease@usu.edu for details.