A Smithsonian Affiliate, Museum of the Rockies is recognized as one of the world’s finest research and history museums, and it houses the most T. rex specimens anywhere in the world. It is notable for its growth series, which includes juvenile-to-adult specimens of Triceratops and T. rex. Museum of the Rockies also delights visitors with changing exhibits from around the globe, permanent indoor and outdoor regional history exhibits, planetarium shows, and a museum store.
Big Al
While “Big Al” is of average size for an Allosaurus (and not fully grown), its significance to paleontology could certainly be described as a “big” deal. Discovered in 1991, Big Al’s skeleton is nearly complete and includes several bones that exhibit signs of infection and/or injury.
Mr. Jurassic Park
The retired Curator of Paleontology for Museum of the Rockies, Jack Horner, served as the scientific advisor for the Jurassic Park movies. It was his job to assist the writers and designers to ensure the dinosaurs were as accurate as possible. He had a cameo appearance in Jurassic World and served as a partial inspiration for one of the lead characters of the franchise, Dr. Alan Grant. While Horner’s contributions to pop culture are notable, his work in paleontology is legendary. He is well-known for his work with the Maiasaura and the evidence of colonial nesting, and since 2009 he has been working to recreate a living dinosaur (by genetically “nudging” the DNA of a chicken).