The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum is a museum and state park in Vernal, Utah, United States.
My Thoughts
Getting to visit the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum was such a cool experience and another amazing stop on this trip. The museum does a great job showing the incredible prehistoric history of Utah, from the dinosaurs that once lived there to the many fossils that tell the story of the ancient environments that existed millions of years ago.
One of the best parts about visiting places like this is seeing how each museum has its own personality and its own way of sharing paleontology. The Utah Field House is filled with amazing specimens, interesting exhibits, and a real passion for bringing the past back to life. Getting to walk through the museum, see the fossils in person, and experience another institution dedicated to sharing Earth’s history made this another memorable highlight of the trip.
Family-run gallery with an on-site quarry showcasing fossils of fish and other finds, plus tours.
My Thoughts
Getting the chance to interview Dean Sherman and Katherine Parsons from InStone Fossils was such a cool experience. After following their work and seeing the incredible fossils they share, it was amazing to finally get the opportunity to go out, meet them in person, and have a conversation with them about what they do.
Dean and Katherine were both incredibly kind, welcoming, and passionate about fossils and paleontology. One of the best parts of this trip has been getting to meet the people behind the discoveries, the people who spend their time searching, preserving, and sharing these amazing pieces of Earth’s history. Getting to hear their stories, learn more about their work, and talk with them firsthand was a highlight of the trip, and I’m really grateful I got the chance to meet them.
Welcome to American Fossil – the ultimate fossil-hunting adventure in the heart of Wyoming’s world-famous Green River Formation! Whether you’re a first-time explorer, a passionate collector, or a curious family looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, American Fossil lets you dig, discover, and keep real fossils that are over 50 million years old.
My Thoughts Getting to do a dig with American Fossil Quarry was one of the most memorable parts of the trip. Of course, finding fossils was exciting, but what really made the experience special were the people. Everyone who worked there was incredibly kind and helpful, and I also got to meet some fellow guests who shared the same excitement for fossils and paleontology. It made the whole day feel less like a tourist activity and more like spending time with a group of people who genuinely enjoyed discovering the past together.
My favorite find of the day wasn’t a fish or some rare fossil, it was a large fossilized stick. There was just something really cool about pulling it from the rock and knowing it had been preserved for millions of years. It’s probably not the most spectacular fossil ever found at the quarry, but it was my favorite because I found it myself.
Between the fossils, the people, and the chance to spend a day digging into layers of ancient history, this was easily one of the highlights of the trip and an experience I’ll remember for a long time. Youtube video
The mission of the Tate Geological Museum at Casper College is to provide educational resources to the community, researchers and visitors. Our position as a regional Earth Science Education Center is maintained by exhibits, educational programs, active collecting and collections preservation.
They are FREE and open to the public.
My Thoughts
Getting to visit the Tate Geological Museum was another awesome stop on this trip. It was really cool getting to explore their collection and see the incredible fossils they have on display, especially their Lee Rex. Seeing such an impressive T. rex specimen in person was definitely one of the highlights of the visit.
What I’ve really enjoyed about this trip is seeing how each museum has its own personality and its own way of sharing the story of prehistoric life. The Tate Geological Museum is a great example of that, with amazing fossils, passionate people, and exhibits that make you stop and appreciate just how incredible Earth’s history really is.
The University of Wyoming Geological Museum is a vital resource for both academic programs at UW and public education. As part of the Department of Geology and Geophysics in the College of Engineering & Physical Sciences, the museum supports scientific research and fosters a deeper understanding of the Earth’s history. The museum strives to make learning tangible and fun for everyone from university students to families. Through its collections, exhibits and outreach programs, the museum plays a key role in advancing the university’s commitment to education, research and community engagement.
My Thoughts
Getting to make a stop at the University of Wyoming Geological Museum was such a cool part of this trip. Even though it is a smaller paleontology museum, especially compared to some of the larger institutions, it is packed with incredible fossils and amazing specimens. From their massive Apatosaurus display to their cast replica of Big Al, there is so much to see and appreciate.
Seeing Big Al was especially meaningful for me because the BBC documentary Walking with Dinosaurs: The Ballad of Big Al is what originally helped spark my love for dinosaurs and pushed me toward paleontology. Big Al was one of the first dinosaurs that really stood out to me, so getting to finally see a representation of this incredible Allosaurus in person, even just as a cast, was an amazing moment.
This stop ended up being one of the highlights of the trip so far. It was a great reminder that some of the most memorable museum experiences are not always at the biggest places, but at the ones that are filled with passion, incredible fossils, and stories that connect back to why we love dinosaurs in the first place.
