St. George Dinosaur Site Building — *St. George Dinosaur site - Photo Credit https://utahdinosaurs.org/*

When he discovered the oldest Jurassic dinosaur site in Utah, St. George local optometrist Dr. Sheldon Johnson was just trying to level his property. That was in 2000. Now, in 2022, it is lauded as the best basal Jurassic track site in western North America. Johnson's discovery turned a piece of raw land into a dinosaur learning center with thrilling exhibits, tracks and casts, working paleontologists, and hands-on activities.

A history of the St. George Dinosaur Discovery site published at utahdinosaurs.org said Johnson had removed several feet of topsoil when he hit a thick layer of sandstone. The rest is history. The doctor's discovery of dinosaur footprints within that layer changed the course of his life. Johnson and his wife, LaVerna couldn't keep the earth's ancient secret any longer. They scrapped their original plans for the land and opened it up to the world. Paleontologists flooded the site. Hundreds of volunteers assisted professionals in uncovering thousands of important fossils.

Johnsons shared the earth;s ancient secret

Word travels fast. The discovery site garnered attention from scientists, business owners, and government officials at every level. Together they created the DinosaurAH!torium Foundation. There's strength in numbers and the organization raised money to build a museum. The doors opened in 2005. The Johnsons and their team literally opened their property to the world to reveal and share pieces of history in a way that would educate visitors. It is a model early Jurassic ecosystem with dinosaurs (of course), plants, fish, and more.

Actual artifacts are displayed in an enchanting setting intended to take visitors back in time with art, ancient trace fossils, hands-on activities, videos, and interpretive signage.

The site also features a garden where children can:

take the Walk through Time Exhibit
climb on model dinosaurs
relax in a pavilion with picnic tables
dig for fossils in the sand
see a collection of petrified wood

The DinosaurAH!torium Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The City of St. George manages and operates the museum and gift shop. The site's story is far from over. The Foundation seeks grants and raises private funds to keep this legacy living with fresh exhibits and activities.

Learning lives here

Have you ever seen a Eubrontes track made by Dilophosaurus? How about a Grallator track most likely made by a Megapnosaurus-like dinosaur? Never fear, there are 17 types of tracks at this location. You might also witness your first Early Jurassic setting. Learn about the ancient environment through sedimentary structures. Following are some other things to look for:

swimming dinosaur tracks
skin impressions
running dinosaur tracks
a rare crouching dinosaur impression

Museum features a comfortable indoor setting

Worried about the Southern Utah heat? The majority of the exhibits are inside a climate-controlled environment. Don't leave Fido in the car. Well-behaved pups are welcome inside on a leash.

WHO:

Explore Utah Real Estate