E-NEWSLETTER / June 2004


RMDRC Opening - FANTASTIC!

     We have been open for our 5th day now and the crowds keep coming!
      In retrospect, you never know exactly how the Grand Opening of a new museum will be. For example, will the weather be good? How many people will be coming? Is the press going to pick up on the story?
     Well, I am happy to report that it went flawless! Our local Woodland Park Downtown Development Authority (DDA) welcomed the RMDRC into the community by presenting an award to Mike Triebold and the Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce and city council gave their support as well. The scissors cut the ribbon and.....TADA...we were open!


Mike and JJ Triebold officially open the RMDRC!

     It has been a long journey for everyone and we are sure glad to be here in Woodland Park, Colorado. Over the next few weeks, we will begin working out the bugs to make the RMDRC an even better visitor experience!
     Thanks to all who helped support us from the start of this project and who continue to do so....

Sincerely,
Dave Ehlert
RMDRC Director
dave@rmdrc.com
 

  
E-DinoByte: Clidastes

     Clidastes was the smallest of the mosasaurs, averaging 2-4 meters (7-12 feet) in length, with the largest specimens reaching 6.2 meters (20 feet) long.
     Clidastes was an agile and fast swimmer that cruised the surface or shallow waters hunting for fish, flying reptiles and anything that got too close.
     It possessed a delicate and slim form with an expansion of the neural spines and chevrons near the tip of the tail and this enabled it to chase down the fastest of prey.


 

FREE Dino-Talks: A BIG Hit

     As part of the opening weekend events, we hosted FREE dinosaur lectures - open to the public, at the Woodland Park Rampart Library on Fri, May 28th and Sat, May 29th.
     Many who attended the talks were disappointed to learn that Dr. Robert Bakker had cancelled his appearance with us at the last minute due to a scheduling conflict.
     However, those in attendance were extremely pleased to hear some of the latest paleontological information from the following speakers:
Keynote Speaker Mike Triebold, Owner and Founder of the RMDRC; "Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, Who are we, What we do, and Why are we in Woodland Park?"

Dr. Ken Carpenter, Curator/Paleontologist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science; "Dinosaurs of Utah"

Dr. Martin Lockley, CU Professor and World's foremost Dinosaur Trackway Expert; "Tracking Dinosaurs Around the World"

Walter W. Stein, RMDRC Curator; "The Joy of Discovery- Exploring For Dinosaurs in the Rocky Mountain West"

Paul Janke, President of Pan Terra, Inc; "The End Cretaceous Extinction"

Many thanks to our guest speakers!
 

  
Prehistoric Paradise Store - ONLINE Again:

     Our store is back online now and offers nearly the same items as our store in Woodland Park (at the RMDRC). If you are looking for that special dino gift - we have it! Please visit www.prehistoricparadise.com for all of your shopping needs...

"Mr. Bones" lends a tail at the RMDRC:

     One of the first things you may have seen, if driving by the RMDRC, was a few nearly life-size dinosaurs walking around! Well, for many children that had been chomped by the creatures, smiles, laughs and giggles could be heard as they disappeared into the jaws of a carnivore.
      The real locomotion behind the skeletal creatures is  none other than "Mr. Bones"; a designer and puppeteer from Louisville, Colorado who lent his femurs to the RMDRC Grand Opening weekend.


Above: Another happy victim!		  
Dinosaur News:

     As always, we like to include a few tidbits from around the globe on the what, who, where, and when of paleontology.
     This month, an article appeared on CNN's web site that presents some interesting news on continental drift and dinosaur relationships. Click here to read more on this information.
     Last month, an article appeared in National Geographic (online) that argued against the extinction of the dinosaurs via the comet/asteroid impact theory (I included the link in the last newsletter).
     Now, just a few days ago on www.space.com , another study is out that again supports the comet/asteroid and dinosaur extinction. I wanted to point out that this sort of thing goes on all the time! Some of the bigger issues surrounding dinosaurs are argued back and forth and will continue to do so.
     So, here is the space.com article for your reading pleasure...click here.

 

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© 2004  Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center