Drumheller – Dinosaur Capital of the World

September 16, 2017Graeme Cash Leave a comment

The township of Drumheller in Alberta, Canada promotes itself as the ‘Dinosaur Capital of the World’.

There are a number of Dinosaur related attractions throughout the township.

One of the main attractions is the Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology. Click here to read my blog post specifically one of the largest museums dedicated to palaeontology.

Also there is the smaller interactive museum, Fossil World Discovery Centre at 1381 North Dinosaur Trail.

Overlooking the town is a large T-Rex sculpture that is 86 feet tall, 151 feet long, and weighing 65 tonnes. Click here to read my blog post about The World’s Largest Dinosaur.

This large T-Rex is surrounded by many brightly colourful dinosaur sculptures dotted around the town.

The Chamber of Commerce placed 33 dinosaur sculptures around Drumheller. Many private businesses have added their own. There are also around 20 dinosaur murals painted across the town.

A non-profit community group the Drumheller Dinoarts Association fundraises and maintains the various dinosaur sculptures and artwork. Check out their Facebook page.

World’s Largest Dinosaur – Drumheller

September 14, 2017Graeme Cash Leave a comment

The township of Drumheller, which promotes itself as the ‘Dinosaur Capital of the World’, is home to the World’s Largest Dinosaur.

This large T-Rex sculpture is 86 feet (25 metres) tall, 151 feet (45 metres) long, and weighs 65 tonnes.

The Dinosaur was built by Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce and cost $1,065,000 to build. Construction begun in October 1999 and the Dinosaur opened to the public on October 13, 2000.

There are 106 steps to the top, which offers views over the township of Drumheller. As only 12 people can fit into the mouth at a time there can be a wait to enter.

The World’s Largest Dinosaur is open from 10am to 5:30pm, and is located at 60 1 Ave West. Drumheller is 135 kilometres (84 miles) northeast of Calgary.

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology

September 12, 2017Graeme Cash Leave a comment

The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is a museum and palaeontology research centre in Alberta, Canada.

19961453_10154499881100810_7504328354631507775_n

The museum, which was established in 1985, is named after geologist Joseph Burr Tyrrell who accidentally discovered the first dinosaur fossil in the Red Deer River Valley in 1884.

Today the museum has a collection of more than 130,000 fossils.

It is a highly interactive space and visitors should allow at least 2 – 3 hours to visit. A highlight has to be the Dinosaur Hall, which has over 40 dinosaur skeletons.

Visitors can also peer through the glass window to the fossil lab and see palaeontologists at work.

From May 15 to August 31 the museum is open 7 days from 9am to 9pm. From September 1 to May 14 it is open from 10 am to 5pm. Note from October to May the museum is closed on Mondays.

The museum is located 6 km (4 miles) northwest of the township of Drumheller at 1500 North Dinosaur Trail.

19961083_10154499881085810_7427760945561872448_n