The Wyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig Sites in Thermopolis, Wyoming

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig Sites is located in Thermopolis, Wyoming, and features nearly 20,000 fossils found in the area, as well as thousands of other displays from around the world. The center is situated near the Morrison Formation, which trapped thousands of fossils from the Late Jurassic Period about 165 million years ago. The center was opened in 1995 and is dedicated to preserving, discovering, and educating visitors about the region's paleontological significance. Visitors can participate in day-long site digs, uncovering dinosaur bones and fossils using techniques that have been used for centuries. The quarries have exposed bones from long-necked plant eaters like Camarasaurus and Diplodocus, as well as meat eaters like Allosaurus. The center is also home to the "Thermopolis Specimen," the only Archaeopteryx found outside of Europe, and Supersaurus "Jimbo," one of the largest-ever mounted dinosaurs. The center's field technicians have discovered over 130 dig sites to date, and new materials are exposed and discovered every year due to erosion. Inside the museum, visitors can learn about the origins of life on earth, from single-cell protozoa to the emergence and dominance of dinosaurs. The exhibit space features over 70 mounted skeletons, hundreds of other displays, dioramas, and replicas. Overall, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig Sites offers a unique and educational experience for visitors of all ages.