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Last updated: January 24, 2011
Dinosaur Park will continue to be staffed by Dinosaur Fund volunteers under the new contract which begins December 1, 2010. The school tour signups should resume shortly. Many fossils found by the public are now in the Smithsonian and my soon appear on the Dinosaur Fund/and/or Smithsonian web sites.
Spring Break Dinosaur Camp will be the weeks of March 21, April 18, and 25, 2011. Contact the Dinosaur Fund at 202-547-3326 or dinosaurfund@juno.com for details.
The rains have more or less cleared the Livingston Road Site of straw so it is pretty much open again.
Rotary is moving ahead to get grant matching funds for a shelter pavilion at the Dinosaur Park. Dr. Kranz will be making his next presentation to the Greenbelt Club on December 14, 2010.
The Dinosaur Fund is looking for schools wishing to help with fossil finding activities both in the field and at school. Moreover, they are seeking individual volunteers to help with the public programs at the Dinosaur Park on the first and third Saturdays of each month from noon til 4PM. If you, your school or your class would like to help, contact the Dinosaur Fund at 202-547-3326 or dinosaurfund@juno.com.
Last updated: November 4, 2010
The BALTIMORE SUN printed an article about the jawbone discovery on October 4, 2010. Many other articles have followed. The new contract for the Park is ready. This means the school program at the Park will resume soon, probably before the end of the year. The Park has been open now for a year and is a big success.
National Fossil Day was attended by school groups and others from the National Capital Area. Gabrielle's and Aiden's families attended to show off their fossil finds. Rachel and Gabrielle were featured in Buddy Bison's Magazine.
The Livingston Road site is temporarily out of business because straw was spread for erosion control. There is a new vast exposure at I-495 and Richie Marlboro Road, however, preliminary reconaisance has not turned up any fossils. The area around #202 and I-495 in Landover is also undergoing major development.
The CAPITALSAURUS article appeared in the October 19, 2010 Roll Call newspaper. It has a picture of Capitalsaurus Court.
Dr. Kranz spoke to the Laurel Rotary Club on October 20, 2010. The Club plans to contact other Clubs for support and has pledged financial and in-kind support for a pavilion at Dinosaur Park.
On October 4, 2010 Dr. Kranz and Dave Hacker spoke at the MNCPPC budget hearing urging support for Dinosaur Park. A local Laurel group also urged support.
Though not truely new, Dr. Kranz has just found it. It being the signs about the fossil at the Sports and Learning Complex. They are tucked away on the far left outside the building by some picnic tables.
On September 4, 2010 during the Public Open House a young visitor found a partial theropod jaw. It is without teeth and is a juvenile. Despite these limitations it was a very important find. It was the first jaw material from a dinosaur found at the Park and the only known theropod skull element known form the Potomac Formation.
National Fossil Day will be at the Natural History Building and at 15th and Constitution on the Mall from 10am-2pm on Wednesday, October 13th. The Dinosaur Fund will display fossils at the Mall location.
Andrew Ross is presenting ideas to Rotary Clubs in Maryland who may wish to support dinosaur-related efforts. Updates will follow in later newsletters.
MNCPPC will hold a budget forum on Monday October 4th at the Sports and Learning Complex 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, Maryland at 7pm in Rooms Landover A and B. If you wish to speak you may call (301) 952-4584 or register at www.pgplanning.org Come out and support Dinosaur Park!
Roll Call newspaper will have an article on Dr. Kranz and the "Capitalsaurus" in early October.
Last updated: September 17, 2010
Thanks to the 40+ College Scholars and PG Parks for the great clean up day at the Park on August 27th. A meeting with PG Parks personnel on August 31st was very successful. All indications are that there will be a shed a cement slab added to the Park before years end. The Summer tours are over. There were dozens. Open houses continue to be well attended, usually 200+ people at each one. The next two are September 4th and 18th.
Dinosaur Camp is over for the Summer. A partial list of 2011 dates are the weeks of April 18th and 25th and June 20th and 27th more dates will be added shortly.
National Fossil Day activities will be held on the Mall at 15th and Constitution and the Natural History Museum from 10am-2pm on Wednesday October 13th, 2010. The Dinosaur Fund and Dinosaur Park will be represented.
Livingston Road has produced mosasur and pleisiosaur fossils in the month of August.
Last updated: August 17, 2010
On July 17th an estimated 250 visitors came to the Dinosaur Park Open House,the largest number of visitors to date. Despite the snowiest winter and hottest summer's ever in the Washington, DC area. Visitorship continues to rise. Moreover, important fossil finds are continuously being made by Open House Visitors and tour group participants.
The last two Dinosaur Camps of the summer are the weeks of August 2nd and August 16th.
There will be a public Cleanup Day at the Dinosaur Park during August. If you wish to help contact the Dinosaur Fund at 202-547-3326 or dinosaurfund@juno.com to register to help.
The 2010 edition of FROMMER'S MARYLAND guide lists the Dinosaur Park as a place to visit.
Dr. Kranz has made fossil kits available for use by DC Public Schools and Charter School teachers. The kits are currently being assembled by several teachers. If you wish to learn more contact the Dinosaur Fund at 202-547-3326 or dinosaurfund@juno.com.
The National Park Service is Planning a Fossil Day event on the National Mall on October 13th. Further details will be in the September and October Newsletters.
Last updated: July 19, 2010
On June 19th Dinosaur Park set a new record when 204 visitors attended a Public Day program on a single day. Also, a dinosaur leg bone from a meat eating dinosaur was found by a visitor. Later in the day a probable tail vertebra was found near the spot where Gabrielle Block found her back on November 21, 2009.
Dinosaur Camp continues with camps the week of 7/5, 7/19, 8/2, 8/16, 8/30.
Dr. Kranz spoke to the Rotary Club of Towsontowne about Dinosaur Park and the Dinosaur Trail on June 30th.
Public days are still 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from noon-4pm. There is a rumor that the park may soon have a portable toilet. Let's hope.
The following camp dates are still open 6/21, 7/5, 7/19, 8/2, 8/16, 8/30. The weeks of the 6/14 and 6/28 are no longer available.
An article about the Smithsonian exhibit on the local dinosaur discoveries appeared on the Baltimore Sun's front page on May 4, 2010. There is a also a website www.paleodb.org where one can see an interactive copy of the map from the exhibit.
On April 3rd 134 people came to Dinosaur Park. On April 17th, there were 115 visitors. Numerous fossils of significance were found by visitors. Park attendence is expected to continue to increase. In addition, hundreds of other visitors have come to the Park on non-public days with schools and other groups.
The summer sessions of Dinosaur Camp are scheduled for the weeks of 6/13, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/19, 8/2, 8/16, and 8/30.
There has been a renewal of interest of placing a reclining Theropod Statue (Capitalsaurus) at Garfield Park. A parent at Capital Hill Day School is helping the Dinosaur Fund raise interest and funds at the school and with Friends of Garfield Park. If you wish to help, contact the Dinosaur Fund at 202-547-3326 or dinosaurfund@juno.com.
Friends of Dinosaur Park ahs begun soliciting volunteers and financial support for Dinosaur Park. You may contact them through the Dinosaur Fund at dinosaurfund@juno.com or 202-547-3326.
At 11AM on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 The Smithsonian Natural History Museum opened a new permanent exhibit of the fossils from DC and Maryland, featuring many fossils from Dinosaur Park. The exhibit was introduced by the Smithsonian's Curator of dinosaurs, Dr. Matthew Carrano. The exhibit highlights the contributions of local fossil collectors and researchers.
Dinosaur Fund has submitted a picture of the Capitalsaurus for consideration for DC low number license plates.
Monarch Academy of Glen Burnie, Maryland is working with Dr. Kranz on dinosaur projects which will include writing a book about Astrodon.
Finally, the Sports/Learning complex in Largo, Maryland will have an exhibit on fossils found there.
Last updated: April 9, 2010
On March 6th a visitor to Dinosaur Park found a tooth from an armored dinosaur. March 20th the Park had 98 visitors in one day. The Par will be open as normal on April 13th & 17th from noon to 4PM for any member of the public to visit. Starting after Easter Week new activities like sifting may become part of the Park experience. More than 15 school and other programs have already been scheduled in April, May, June, July and August. If your group wishes to schedule a program, call 301-627-7755.
The Maryland dinosaur fossil exhibit at the Smithsonian is still expected to open in April, 2010. It was delayed because of the celebration for the new "Hall of Human Origins".
The Dinosaur Fund has organized a new Committee called "Friends of Dinosaur Park". It will raise money and volunteers to help with the operation of Dinosaur Park. If you wish to help, call 202-547-3326 or email dinosaurfund@juno.com.
Last updated: March 31, 2010
Dinosaur Park was closed the entire month of February because it was under several feet of snow. March is not looking very promising either. Perhaps March 20th will be OK.
Spring Break Camp dates are still the weeks of 3/22, 3/29 and 4/5.
Smithsonian Magazine article appeared in the February 2010 issue in the "Around the Mall" section.
Discovery News has posted a short video on Dinosaur Park. 'Prehistoric Washington DC' ran on February 28th and will be repeated March 1.
The Smithsonian is installing a dinosaur exhibition on Maryland dinosaurs which will open sometime in April 2010. On May 6th from 11-2pm there will be a Maryland dinosaur program in conjunction with the DC Science Teacher's Association at Natural History.
Dr. Kranz gave a talk about Dinosaur Park at the US Naval Academy on February 19th to the Sigma Xi Chapter.
Last updated: February 17, 2010
Three out of the six Prehistoric episodes are scheduled to air on Sunday, February 21st on the Discovery Channel:Prehistoric: Dallas @ 8 PM
Prehistoric: DC @ 9 PM
Prehistoric: Los Angeles @ 10 PM
Please check your local listings.
Last updated: February 15, 2010
Dinosaur Park will have public days February 6th and 20th from noon-4pm. One of my main reasons for wanting the park appears to be coming to pass. I have always thought that there are members of the general public who have important fossils but have not known where to take them or who to contact. On January 16th a visitor to the park brought his fossils including a very rare fossil Cycadiodea Marylandica which he said he'd been trying to have identified for years. He said it was found in Elkridge, MD ad well-known site for that type of fossil. It is to be hoped that people will continue to reveal their long unidentified specimens at park public days.
Spring Break camps are the weeks of 3/22, 3/29 and 4/5. Contact us at dinosaurfund@juno.com
Discovery News will run a story this month on Dinosaur Park. Look for it.
NPR has once again said it wants to do a story on the Park.
One other thing last month champagne affected was that I forgot to include a notice about my talk on January 11 to the GLMS of Montgomery Co. They had a short story on the program in their newsletter the Rockhounder.
The February 2010 issue of Smithsonian Magazine does indeed have a nice article on Gabrielle Block's dinosaur discovery at Dinosaur Park last November.
Last updated: January 15, 2010
The fossil tail bone discovery went viral on the web and everywhere after the AP story. There are still articles and reports appearing about it. Discovery news is preparing a piece. Scholastic already has one and Smithsonian Magazine will have an article in the February 2010 issue.
Things have not slowed down at the Park. The hits keep on coming. Although it snowed on December public days, people still came out. (reminder: Park is open 1st and 3rd Saturday each month Noon-4pm). All other times by appointment call (301) 627-7755.
On January 2,2010 despite howling winds and cold temperatures, people came out and a scout discovered a partial turtle fossil.
Dinosaur Camps for Spring break are the weeks of March 22; March 29, and April 5.
The fossil site at Livingstone Road remains open and all construction appears to have stopped for the present.
There will be a free screening of "Creation" a film about evolution with scientists in attendance at the E St. Cinema on January 13 at 7pm. If you wish to come, you must send your name to oschwarz@nas.edu to be placed on the list.
Last updated: January 4, 2010
Petition to save UBC Quarry in West Paterson, NJ from development.
The UBC Quarry in West Paterson, NJ has been a unique fossil locality for scientific research and spectacular fossils from the Passaic formation in the Early Jurassic period of NJ since the 1960's. Many discoveries over the years have yielded a great deal of knowledge to the scientific community in the area of trace fossils (ichnology) during this unique time period.
Large museums and universities have done research projects and collected at the quarry to add to their collections and preserve these fossils. Ironically most of the fossils from this quarry are in private hands and not in a museum for folks to enjoy. The quarry was once an active quarry for many years but now has been sold to a developer to create high end condos that overlook NYC.
The remaining fossils in the quarry will be forever lost if the developers are allowed to demolish the remaining section of the quarry to complete their development. No more fossils from this period will ever be able to be collected again as this is the only place in NJ that has fossils from this time period. Once this section is gone there will be no more science or fossils to be gained. There is one section of the quarry left next to Rifle Camp Park that is of scientific significance that is threatened to be lost forever due to the development of these condos.
Some of the best preserved dinosaur and reptile footprints have been found in this quarry which do not compare to any other locality from New Jersey. Dinosaur tracks and fossil trace fossils have been a very unique, rare, and are an important piece of our fossil history and deserves to be protected. The state of New Jersey has done very little to protect fossil localities compared to other states in the USA and that is why we need your help. Trace fossils are a very important part of the state of New Jersey's history just like Hadrosaurus foulki and deserve to be protected, preserved and enjoyed by future generations. Let's not make this just a memory like other fossil sites in Northern NJ.
Let's make it a preserved site forever. Time is running out and only a few months left till it is gone forever. Thanks.