Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum | |
---|---|
Location | Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States |
Coordinates | 41°39′03″N 72°39′28″W / 41.65083°N 72.65778°W[1] |
Area | 80 acres (32 ha)[2] |
Elevation | 187 ft (57 m)[1] |
Designation | Connecticut state park |
Established | 1968 |
Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
Website | Dinosaur State Park |
Designated | April 1968 |
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum is a state-owned natural history preserve occupying 80 acres (32 ha) in the town of Rocky Hill, Connecticut. The state park protects one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. The park was created in recognition of fossil trackways embedded in sandstone from the beginning of the Jurassic period, about 200 million years ago.[3] The facility is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.[4]
History
The Rocky Hill dinosaur tracks were uncovered in 1966, adding to the extensive legacy of fossil discoveries made in the
Features
- Geodesic dome
The park's 55,000-square-foot (5,100 m2)
In addition to the tracks, the dome houses life-sized dioramas of plants and creatures, including Dilophosaurus, from depict the Triassic and Jurassic periods. Other exhibits include interactive displays; a reconstruction of a geologic foundation; and a historical exhibit depicting highlights of the unearthing of the tracks in 1966. The discovery room houses a blue-tongued skink, ball python, and dinosaur-related arts and crafts. Rock slabs with other Connecticut Valley fossil tracks, including large four-toed Otozoum tracks with visible skin impressions, can also be seen.[5]
- Arboretum
The arboretum's 2 miles (3.2 km) of trails pass through some 250 species and cultivars of conifers, plus collections of
- Events and activities
The park offers educational films, guided trail walks, and lectures. Warm-month activities include footprint track casting and mining for gems and fossils.[9] In August, Dinosaur State Park Day offers games, arts and crafts activities, and live music.[10] There is a stone path that leads to the domed museum with a timeline showing the evolution of earth from its creation to today. From May–October visitors can see an outdoor exhibit teaching how paleontologists ply their trade. There are two and a half miles of hiking trails in the park.[7]
See also
- Connecticut River Valley trackways
- Dinosaur Footprints Reservation
- List of botanical gardens in the United States
- List of fossil sites
References
- ^ a b "Dinosaur State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests" (PDF). State Parks and Forests: Funding. Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. p. A-1. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ^ a b Galton, Peter M.; Farlow, James O. (2003). "Dinosaur State Park, Connecticut, USA: history, footprints, trackways, exhibits" (PDF). Zubia. 21: 129–173.
- ^ a b "Dinosaur State Park". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. September 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^ a b "The Trackway at Dinosaur State Park". Friends of Dinosaur Park and Arboretum. Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- ^ "Dinosaur Trackway". National Natural Landmarks. National Park Service. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^ a b Filipov, David (March 14, 2010). "On the trail of a predator, 200 million years later". Boston.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ "The Arboretum of Evolution". Friends of Dinosaur Park and Arboretum. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ^ "Footprint Casting at Dinosaur State Park". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "Dinosaur State Park Day". Friends of Dinosaur Park and Arboretum. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
External links
- Dinosaur State Park Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Dinosaur State Park Map Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Dinosaur State Park Friends of Dinosaur Park and Arboretum