BLM-Utah and the Discovery Gateway Partner in Displaying a 75-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Skull

Contact: Tina Brown, 801-539-4256, Lindsie Smith, 801-456-5437

Salt Lake City—March 12, 2009—The Bureau of Land Management Utah will proudly display a life-sized Gryposaurus Monumentensis skull at the Discovery Gateway children’s museum in Salt Lake City.  A duck-billed dinosaur, this Gryposaurus Monumentensis skull is the first, mostly complete dinosaur skull ever collected from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The skull is approximately 75 million years old and measures nearly three feet long.

The Gryposaurus Monumentensis skull is part of the BLM Utah’s Traveling Exhibit Program. The dinosaur skull will be on display at the Discovery Gateway until March 23, when it will travel to another location.  In conjunction with National Children’s Literature Month, BLM Utah State Paleontologist, Scott Foss, will read dinosaur-themed stories to children visiting Discovery Gateway.  This is a unique opportunity to pique children’s interest in both dinosaur exploration and reading. Join us March 13 at 3 p.m. for the dinosaur reading.

BLM Utah invites you to visit Discovery Gateway where the exciting history of southern Utah’s Gryposaurus Monumentensis comes to life and to participate in other fun-filled, educational activities surrounding this wonderful exhibit.