Full Sized Tyrannosaurs Rex Robot Center Piece of Museum of Western Colorado’s “Summer of T-Rex”

Fruita, Colorado - The Museum of Western Colorado is excited to announce a blockbuster summer exhibition at the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita, Colorado.  From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend the Museum will be celebrating “The Summer of Tyrannosaurus Rex” with a heart pounding temporary exhibit all about the tyrant king.  The highlight of the exhibit will be a full-sized robotic model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex that has been painstakingly designed and critiqued by nationally known paleontologists to be the most lifelike and accurate reconstruction to date.  In addition, at nearly fifty feet long and eighteen feet high, this is believed to be the world’s largest robotic dinosaur and was created by Wonderworks Exhibits Company.  “Wonderworks is very pleased to join with its good friends at the Museum of Western Colorado,” says Jack Hull, Owner of Wonderworks.  “With a commitment to accuracy, we have consulted with world renowned paleontologists and know that Grand Junction will be on everyone’s map this summer.”  In addition to the colossal center piece there will be another robotic of a juvenile Tyrannosaurus.

Real fossilized bones from the Museum of Western Colorado’s collection from Tyrannosaurus will also be on display including leg and hip bones and teeth and claws.  A full sized model of the head and leg of Tyrannosaurus will show how the muscle and bone structure looked beneath the skin and a cast of a T-Rex skull will show just how massive the jaw and teeth of the animal were. For Curator of Paleontology Dr. John Foster, the exhibit is an opportunity to not only answer questions but also raise new ones.  “I hope that folks will come away with plenty of questions.  For example, why did such a gargantuan predator evolve at a time when the largest prey dinosaurs at the time were so much smaller?  Why was the next largest carnivore in the environment nearly 70 times smaller than Tyrannosaurus?  There is a lot to wonder about with an animal like this and we believe a moving, life-sized reconstruction will inspire much curiosity.”

The once in a lifetime Tyrannosaurus Rex display is just one part of the Museum’s annual Dinosaur Days festivities.  Events will include a special lecture celebrating the thirty-year anniversary of the Mygatt-Moore Quarry in western Colorado’s Rabbit Valley on the evening of July 29.  The quarry is the Museum’s main source for Jurassic paleontological material and is one of the most scientifically important worksites in the world.  Also on the 29th will be the Old Fossil Golf Classic at Adobe Creek.  Finally, Dinosaur Journey Museum will be open with special activities on July 30.

The entire slate of activities is sure to generate excitement but at the heart of it all will be the Massive Tyrannosaurus Rex.  “T-Rex, the icon of the dinosaur world, comes to Dinosaur Journey not only as the most scientifically accurate but the largest known robotic dinosaur” says Mike Perry, Executive Director of the Museum of Western Colorado.  “Measuring nearly fifty feet long it is simply amazing.  The Museum of Western Colorado is proud to be showcasing this ‘Monster of all Ages’ as a blockbuster attraction.”