The Morrison Natural History Museum is a natural history museum located in Morrison, Colorado. The exhibits include several dinosaurfossils that were found nearby. Hands-on exhibits are designed to appeal to both children and adults, scientists and non-scientists.
My Thoughts
Visiting the Morrison Natural History Museum was such a cool experience, especially because I got the chance to meet paleontologist Sarah Miller and spend time talking with her about the museum. Getting to walk through the exhibits while hearing her insights and learning more about the work that goes into preserving and sharing these fossils made the visit even more special.
Sarah was amazing to talk with, and it was really cool seeing her passion for the museum and the fossils on display. Moments like this are what make visiting museums so memorable, not just seeing incredible specimens, but getting to meet the people who dedicate their lives to studying and sharing the history of life on Earth. I’m really grateful I got the opportunity to meet her and experience the museum with someone so passionate about paleontology.
Erin began visiting Dinosaur Ridge as a young child with her grandparents in the 1990s, had her high school senior portrait taken on the Ridge, and in April 2022 celebrated her 20th year on staff, currently as Director of Education Programs. You might say she lives and breathes Dino Ridge, and is certainly the person with more institutional knowledge than anyone on staff.
As a teenaged volunteer, Erin served as a tour guide while her grandfather drove the organization’s original tour bus (the van-o-saurus) over West Alameda Parkway, before the road was closed to public traffic. She was involved in early children’s camps and is credited with building them up to the award-winning program it has become. Erin is always excited to try a new program or retry an old one that may have been attempted before its time.
Erin’s education is ongoing and self-guided by her curiosity and the needs of the job. She loves getting in the field and getting dirty, but also enjoys professional conferences where she can attend workshops and lectures given by experts with groups like the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the Colorado Association of Science Teachers (CAST), and the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE).
Before joining Dinosaur Ridge full-time, Erin volunteered at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) learning how to set up exhibits in the education collections department. She continues to collaborate with the Morrison Natural History Museum on paleontology projects and in October 2024 will present her research on Arthur Lakes letters to O.C.Marsh at the annual Society of Vertebrate Paleontologists (SVP) meeting in Minneapolis.
Erin holds an AA in Museum Studies and in 2023 was named one of 40 Under 40 by the Denver Business Journal for her work inspiring and educating children about earth science.
As a game and music lover, Erin is passionate about bringing more interactive and technology-driven experiences for visitors to the Ridge.
(Interview Coming Later, Hotel Wifi is bad) My Thoughts Getting the chance to interview Erin LaCount at Dinosaur Ridge was an incredible way to start the Western Dino Road Trip. Erin was incredibly kind, welcoming, and passionate about sharing the story of Dinosaur Ridge and the amazing fossils preserved there. I’m really grateful that I was able to get in contact with her and have the opportunity to sit down and talk about paleontology, fossils, and the importance of sharing these discoveries with others.
The interview was an amazing experience, and it was awesome getting to learn more about such an incredible location from someone who helps bring its history to life. Starting the trip at Dinosaur Ridge was the perfect way to begin this adventure, and I’m excited to see where the rest of the journey takes me! 🦖
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a municipal natural history and sciencemuseum in Denver, Colorado. It is a resource for informal science education in the Rocky Mountain region. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help museum visitors learn about the natural history of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The 716,000-square-foot (66,519 m2) building houses more than one million objects in its collections including natural history and anthropological materials, as well as archival and library resources.
My Thoughts
Coming back to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science was an incredible experience, especially during a time when the museum has so many exciting new exhibits like the Teen Rex and Largest Dinosaurs displays. Getting to see these unique exhibits while also revisiting the permanent halls made the visit feel like the perfect mix of something new and something familiar.
One of the highlights is still the iconic Allosaurus vs. Stegosaurus display. It is one of those exhibits that feels like the Allosaurus and Stegosaurus scene, a powerful snapshot of prehistoric life frozen in time. The way it captures the tension between predator and prey is what makes it so memorable, and it has become one of those classic dinosaur displays that represents what makes museums so special: telling a story, not just showing fossils.
Beyond the dinosaurs, exploring the museum’s other exhibits that take you through billions of years of Earth’s history is always an amazing experience. From ancient life to the changing worlds that came before us, the museum does an incredible job showing the story of our planet and the creatures that once called it home.
Getting to visit Dinosaur National Monument again was such an amazing experience. I had been here before, but coming back this time felt completely different because I got to bring all of my listeners along with me and share the experience with everyone. There is something special about returning to a place that already means something to you and getting to experience it all over again.
One of my favorite parts is always seeing the famous dinosaur quarry wall. Standing in front of that incredible wall of fossils and seeing so many bones preserved together is something that never gets old. It is one of those places that truly shows the scale of prehistoric life and reminds you just how much history is preserved in the rocks around us.
Getting to return to Dinosaur National Monument and share it through the podcast made this visit even more memorable, and it was definitely another highlight of the trip.
Full museum plus active dig sites at Warm Springs Ranch — we got to excavate real dinosaur bones alongside the resident paleontologists.
My Thoughts
Getting to visit the Wyoming Dinosaur Center was easily one of the most exciting stops of the trip. This place is a true dinosaur lover’s dream, with incredible fossils, amazing mounts, and a collection that really captures the prehistoric world. Walking through the museum and seeing everything from massive dinosaur skeletons to smaller fossils and displays was such a cool experience.
One of the best parts was getting to see how much history and passion is packed into this museum. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center does an amazing job showcasing the fossils of Wyoming and bringing these animals back to life in a way that feels exciting and accessible. Getting to explore the exhibits, see the incredible specimens, and experience a place so dedicated to dinosaurs made this one of the highlights of the trip so far.
