Dinosaur Journey Virtual Tour

Scroll over and click the icons to watch the videos associated with this tour.  You can either start at the Hall of Tracks   or watch the videos in any order you like!

 

Hall of Tracks What is a Dinosaur? Brachiosaurus Utahraptor Morrison Dinosaurs Western Interior Seaway Ceratopsian Dinosaurs Velociraptor Dilophosaurus Allosaurus Archaeopteryx Apatosaurus and Fossilization Green River Formation Stewardship

 

Topics Covered on Tour Stops:

Stop 1: Hall of Tracks

Not all fossils are body fossils! Dr. McHugh takes us through the Hall of Tracks and tells us how we can learn about animal behavior based on the tracks and traces they leave behind.

Stop 2: What is a dinosaur?

What is a dinosaur? Would you know one if you saw it? Dr. McHugh shows us the the Camptosaurus and explains the features that define a dinosaur.

Stop 3: Brachiosaurus

Discover the Grand Valley’s own giant dinosaur, the Brachiosaurus. Dr. McHugh tells us all about this huge beast that was first found here!

Stop 4: Utahraptor

Did you know that some dinosaurs had feathers? Utahraptor was one of the dinosaurs that had them. Dr. McHugh teaches us about feathers and other adaptations that made Utahraptor king of the dromaeosaurs.

Stop 5: Morrison Formation Dinosaurs

Most of the dinosaurs in the Grand Valley come from a rock layer called the Morrison Formation. Dr. McHugh describes these dinosaurs and their adaptations to environment represented by the Morrison Formation.

Stop 6: Western Interior Seaway

Did you know the Grand Valley was once at the bottom of a salty sea? Dr. McHugh tells us all about the animals that lived in and around that sea and how they adapted to their environments.

 

Stop 7: Ceratopsian Dinosaurs

Dr. McHugh explains how dinosaurs like Triceratops and Diabloceratops used their horns and frills. You might be surprised to learn about these unique adaptations!

Stop 8: Velociraptor

Was Velociraptor really like the dinosaur from the movies? Dr. McHugh shows us the real Velociraptor and explains how it was adapted to be a fierce predator.

Stop 9: Dilophosaurus

Dr. McHugh teaches us about the real Dilophosaurus and how it was adapted to a desert environment in the Middle Jurassic Period.

Stop 10: Allosaurus

Allosaurus was the most common predator in the Late Jurassic Period. Dr. McHugh tells us all about the adaptations it had to make it so successful

Stop 11: Archaeopteryx

Is it a bird? Is it a dinosaur? Dr. McHugh explains all of the features and adaptations that Archaeopteryx shares with both birds and dinosaurs.

Stop 12: Apatosaurus and Fossilization

Dr. McHugh tells us about how this giant Apatosaurus bone was taken out of the ground and how fossils are formed.

Stop 13: The Green River Formation

Learn about the fossil animals and plants found in the Green River Formation and why lakes are a great place for soft tissues to be preserved.

Stop 14: Stewardship

What should you do if you find a fossil? Dr. McHugh tells us about fossils found on public lands and how to be a good steward of the land and its resources.