At The Dinosaur Museum, the complete history of the world of the dinosaurs is presented. Skeletons, fossilized skin, eggs, footprints, state-of-the-art graphics, and beautifully realistic sculptures present the dinosaurs from the Four Corners region and throughout the globe.
•Location is at the southern end of Blanding; 21.4 miles south of Monticello, along Hwy 191 for 21.3 miles, right turn onto 700 South & left onto South 200 West to access parking area.
•Open April 15 – October 15, Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm, Closed Sunday.
•Admission Fee: Yes. Special group rates are available for tours of 10 or more persons.
Guided group tours are available with reservations.
•Camping: Not Allowed.
•Pets: Not Allowed.
•Website: http://www.dinosaur-museum.org
•Address: 754 South 200 West, Blanding, UT, 84511
•Phone: (435) 678-3454
From the youngest child to the oldest adult, if you are fascinated by dinosaurs, don't miss this museum!
Bluff Fort Visitors Center resides in the
rebuilt Bluff Co-op, while the reconstructed fort area itself gives historical
insight to the trek of the Hole in the Rock Mormon Pioneers who traveled from Escalante
and settled in Bluff in 1880.There are
log cabins (narrations of settlers’ story featured in each), covered wagons,
Navajo Hogan and much more to depict living a pioneer life.
·Location
is 46.5 miles south along Hwy 191 from Monticello; in Bluff, make a right turn
onto 5th East, at the corner, make a right turn onto Black Locust
Ave., the parking area is in front of the Visitor Center on the right hand side
of the street.
·The
Fort is open year round and free to visitors; the Visitor Center is open year
round, Mon-Sat, 9am – 4pm.
·Museum,
gift shop & visitor information is inside the rebuilt Co-op.A bank robber, who misjudged how much
dynamite would blow up the safe, blew up the original building in 1925.
·During
the months of March – October, fresh baked cookies & brownies are offered
for sale, as well as ice cream.
In 1909, Navajo National Monument was established as a protectorate for amazing Puebloan sites: Keet Seel, Betatakin and Inscription House. Unfortunately, the day we visited, one of our party could not do any hiking that day, even the 1.3 mile round trip to Betatakin Overlook. However, we were able to visit a more accessible site, Tsegi Point Overlook, and the Visitor Center does contain a museum with a recreation of a ruin at Betatakin.
Highway 564 is 20 miles west, on Highway 160, from the town of Kayenta; another 9 miles along Highway 564 will bring you to the Visitor Center.
About halfway to the Visitor Center is Tsegi Point Overlook, a breathtaking viewpoint of the Tsegi Canyon system including Fir, Tsegi, Dowozhiebito and Keet Seel canyons. Not only is this a stunning landscape, but the quiet surrounds you.
The Visitor Center staff are friendly and helpful; there is a small gift shop inside, and another shop selling Native American crafts next door. The museum is filled with Native American artifacts, as well as a recreation of a pueblo home located at Betatakin.
We drove around to scout out the two campgrounds (first come, first serve and NO wood fires allowed), and the surrounding plant and tree life of the area.
We're looking forward to going back and definitely taking that hike out to Betatakin Overlook; also just nosing around to see what we can see.
By the way, if coming from Kayenta, make sure to keep a lookout at the alcoves in those sandstone hills; there are ruin sites like the one at mile mark 379 (south side)/mile mark 394 (north side) on Highway 160.
Inside the Museum, there are displays of dinosaur skeletons, tracks, and many interactive touch screens featuring information, recreations and games. There is a short stairway up to the outdoor patio within the museum's tower. Panoramic views of the area and park are striking!
Panoramic Photo on Tower Wall
My own view shots from the Tower.
The attraction that will quickly become number one is the Paleo Aquarium; a 3D experience with a dramatic 5D experience at the end, the Megalodon Shark Attack! Every 15 to20 minutes, a group of 15 are taken into the aquarium by a tour guide. As you enter the "underground caverns of the laboratories", the 3D glasses go on. Without the glasses, all you would see are images on screens, but with them on the images are now transformed into the most spectacular water shots. Denizens of the prehistoric deep swim past the portals, snapping jaws encasing razor sharp teeth. Seriously, you will swear that this is an actual aquarium full of watery displays featuring live creatures; most awesome sights ever! Carefully you will enter a chamber and the terrifying fun begins; the 5D experience of sight, sound, touch, smell and movement. WATCH OUT!!! It's coming through the glass!!!
Here is a short video of what you will experience; while my camera could only record a slight version of the 3D, my husband was able to transform it into a higher definition of 3D.
Moab Giants Dinosaur Park is great fun for children of all ages, especially the ones still in the hearts of adults; take the family today!
One block east of the intersection of Center and Main Streets is a two story, brick building housing the Museum of Moab. It contains Grand County's past - Anthropology, Archaeology, Paleontology, Geology and History; landscapes of Moab are immortalized in paintings along the walls of the Art Gallery. When you enter, expect to be greeted by Victoria; she is passionate about Moab and the museum itself; she'll gladly answer any questions. Across from the welcome desk is a small gift shop, but it's packed with books, artwork, collectibles, toys, and Native American wares.
Past the gift shop is the Paleontology Room featuring the bones of a Camarasaurus found south of Moab; ancient coral reef specimens, and fossilized dinosaur eggs. Just around the corner of the gift shop is the full skeleton of an Ankylosaurus.
Camauasaurus
Ankylosaurus
Geology, Minerals and the Mining Era come next; beautiful specimens of crystals, a diorama of Moab's typography; story boards detailing the various mines including Charlie Steen's (Moab's Uranium King) "Mi Vida" mine; and the "Atlas Mine" which is still in an ongoing project to remove the tailings (Potash Road - Route 279).
Mining Era
Mi Vida Mine
Atlas Mine
Homestake La Sal Mine - that's my hubby, Roy, helping to
keep the story boards open.
Moab's history is full with Ranchers, Native Americans, Cowboys, the World Wars; the movie industry has used various areas in Grand County for films and television shows.
Movie Props
Cattle Ranching
The Ute
Native Americans
Pithouse
Stones Used for Jewelry
A section of Mammoth tusk was found, and this is within the Native American display area.
Upstairs is the Art Gallery where many of the paintings have been done by the Moab Pastel Guild. There's also a room depicting what life was like for the settlers in the early 1900s, and a doctor's office from the 1920s. From 1933 thru 1942, Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work program which provided work to unemployed unmarried men from relief families - a photo of the Blanding Utah CCC is proudly hung on the Art Gallery wall.
The Art Gallery
Moab Pastel Guild
Blanding Utah CCC - August 8, 1940
The Settlers
1920s Doctor's Office
The Museum of Moab began in 1958 and has outgrown its walls; they are currently asking for donations to achieve the goal of expanding the building. This is a worthwhile venture, as around every corner there is an exhibit that will interest everyone; drawing out "oohs" and "aahs" from children and adults alike.
