History
Between Moffat, Colorado and Jensen Utah this chunk of land was set apart as a National Monument on October 4 of 1915. It’s history is obviously long as it involves a range of fossils of dinosaurs, and evidence of the Fremont people in different periods of time. Additional ties to the Shoshone and Ute Indians as well as Spanish explorers is also evident.
Near the entrance of the park you will see a stone marker that reads “Escalante crossed here 1776” marking the first known European expedition in the Uinta Basin of the present United States. Dominguez was a Friar dispatched from Santa Fe to discover a land route to the Roman Catholic monastery in Monterey. Friar Escalante was a part of the party and was very useful as he was familiar with many of the regional Native Americans and was credited with the drawing of the detailed map and records of their expedition.
Near the stone marker at Dinosaur National Monument visitors will see at the rivers edge what Escalante actually described in his journal: “a chain of small bluffs of loose dirt, some lead colored and others of yellow hue.” Escalante’s depiction of this region’s landscape and peoples is remarkably accurate and helps us in understanding slices of history in many ways.
Earl Douglass
Earl Douglass was a Paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Near the start of the 20th century the Carnegie Museum displayed a huge Diplodocus skeleton from the state of Wyoming. Eager for more displays to mount in the museum, Douglass set off for Utah in hopes to find even more wonders. In 1909 Douglass found nine tails protruding from a sandstone hill. In his diary he shared:
“At last, in the top of the ledge where the softer overlying beds form a divide, a kind of saddle, I saw eight of the tail bones of [an Apatosaurus] in exact position. It was a beautiful sight.”
For weeks he had only found fragments of dinosaurs that weren’t worth the museum’s attention, but amidst this find on August 19, 1909 he not only found several tail bones, but a whole set of dinosaur fossils mixed with the Apatosaurus fossil. Since then this particular region has proved to be a location packed full of fossils and bones. Douglass’ part time-summer exploration turned into a full time job in Utah. His wife and 1 year old child joined him shortly thereafter. Just six years later it was set apart as a National Monument in order to protect this dinosaur quarry.
Five years before Dinosaur National Monument became a National Monument dinosaur bones and fossils were shipped out of its basin all the way to Philadelphia. As this was over a hundred years ago, it’s important to note that this was more complicated than anything our trucks and jeeps could more easily accomplish today. Transporting these bones to Philadelphia entailed mules pulling wagons across snow in the late month of November. Some of the bones and fossils proved to be so heavy that it actually became necessary to lower carts and wagons into the trenches before the different specimens were loaded into its bed. One time a specimens actually broke through the bottom of one of the wagons and there were other times when it seemed the wagons would tip from the heavy unbalanced weight. The Uintah Railway was used to transport these fossils to places on the opposite side of the United States. The Uintah Railway would continue to serve faithfully transporting fossils until the Carnegie ceased its quarrying operations in 1923.
Present
One of the most popular destinations to stop within the National Monument is the Quarry Exhibit Hall as it displays many of the rare Fossil Bones discovered at this site. Parking, restroom facilities, a vistor center and trails such as the ‘Fossil Discovery Trail’ mark up bits of this National Monument in such a way that facilitates convenience and learning.
Tips and Logistics
- Park admission fees are $20.00/personal vehicle, $15.00/motorcycle, and $10.00/person for bicyclists and walk-ins. An Annual Pass is $40.00.
- Free admission days are offered on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the First day of National Park Week, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.
Must See
Today fun things to do at Dinosaur National Monument include opportunities such as auto touring, back country camping, bicycling, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, river rafting, stargazing and guided tours–but these are some of the musts:
-Check out the petroglyphs and pictographs at the McKee Spring
-Observe the dinosaur bones at the Quarry
-Explore one of the Monument’s many day hikes
-Go on a whitewater rafting trip
One Day
https://inspiredimperfection.com/adventures/dinosaur-national-monument/
https://vacationidea.com/colorado/best-things-to-do-in-dinosaur-colorado.html
Nearby Attractions
Moonshine Arch (about 35 min away)
Moonshine Arch is a light 3 mile out and back hike into a sandstone ridge just outside Vernal Utah. It’s a walk that is suitable for all skills and is open year round.
1. (From 11625 E 1500 S, Jensen, UT 84035)
2. Take Brush Creek Rd to US-191 N/N Vernal Ave in Vernal
3. Turn right onto US-191 N/N Vernal Ave
Continue to follow US-191 N
4. Drive for about 7 more minutes until you reach your destination
Utah Field House of Natural History State Museum (about 20 min away)
This Museum incorporates hands on experiences such as digging for fossils or exploring the dinosaur garden.
1.Start around 11625 E 1500 S, Jensen, UT 84035
2. Head south on UT-149
3. Turn right onto US-40 W
Destination will be on your left
Directions
From Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge (about 22 min)
1. Head east on CO-318 E toward Co Rd 83
2. Turn right onto Co Rd 34N
3. Continue onto Co Rd 34N
4. Turn right onto Co Rd 34
5. Arrive at 11625 E 1500 S, Jensen, UT 84035
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Comments
2 responses to “Dinosaur National Monument”
Dino land is so fun!!
Great post! Can’t wait to go see it again in person!