April, 2007. Wyomings bighorn basin Its more than just cowboys and rodeos …

April, 2007

Wyoming’s bighorn basin Wyoming’s bighorn basin

It’s more than just cowboys and rodeos It’s more than just cowboys and rodeos ……

The Bighorn Basin of Wyoming

contains extensively documented

fossil deposits dating 542 million

years ago (Cambrian Period) to

the present.

World famous localities with:

- Dinosaur and marine reptile

bones

- Dinosaur eggshells

- Dinosaur tracks and trackways

- Primitive mammal fossils

Located on private land as well as state and federal land.

Dinosaur Quarries near Shell

“The Bighorn Basin is one of

the few places in the world

where the fossil record, as

shown in the rocks, is

uninterrupted from the

demise of dinosaurs through

the early diversification of

mammals”Source: USDI Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Grass Creek Resource Area Resource Management Plan September 1994

20,000 to 25,000 years ago a variety of large mammals died and plummeted 85 feet into what is now called Natural Trap Cave. "It's a world-class paleontological Pleistocene deposit."

"Essentially it has the entire record of the Pleistocene up until 10,000, 12,000 years ago."

Source: Billings Gazette, October, 2005

Primitive Mammals Natural Trap Cave in the

Bighorns

Dire Wolf

Saber-toothed lion

“The Bighorn Canyon rock

shelters study area contains

evidence of continuous

occupation by humans for

over 11,000 years”Source: Personal conversation with Dr. George FrisonProfessor emeritus of anthropology, University of Wyoming

Each year, major fossil discoveries

are collected and removed from

this part of the Bighorn Basin!

Where are these

Bighorn Basin Fossils?

Where are They?The famous allosaur “Big Al”, subject of the BBC / Discover video entitled “Allosaur” . . .

. . . Montana’s Museum of

the Rockies

The 1934 Howe Dinosaur Quarry collection of over 4,000 dinosaur bones collected by the famous paleontologist Barnum Brown . . .

. . . American Museum of Natural History,

New York City

Where are They?

The Howe-Stephens Dinosaur collection, featuring “Big Al Two”, the most complete allosaur ever discovered, and six other major dinosaur discoveries . . .

. . . Saurier Dinosaur Museum in

Switzerland

Where are They?

Rare Jurassic-age Dinosaur Eggshell Fossils . . .

. . . Smithsonian

Institution

Where are They?

Ancient Marine Reptile Fossils . . .

. . . Smithsonian

Institution

Where are They?

Ichthyosaur collected 1006 by the Smithsonian team near Shell

Plesiosaur pelvis in jacket – collected 2004 by Dr. Robin O’Keefe, New York

Why are they leaving our area?

Suitable facilities and

resources for

preparation, storage and

display of dinosaur fossils

are

NOT AVAILABLE!

Professional scientists, including

world famous anthropologists,

geologists, and paleontologists have

conducted research and collection

activities in the Bighorn Basin for

over 75 years . . .

Our Fossil Heritage is Relatively Unknown to the

Average Citizen!

Professional Geoscientists Currently Active Here (partial list)

Dr. Erik Kvale Dr. Neil Clark Kirby Siber Dr. Michael Brett-Surman

Dr. Matt Carrano Steve Jabo Pete Kroehler Dr. Robin O’Keefe Dr. Jack Beuthin

Dr. Paul Sereno Dr. James Farlow Dr Nick Fraser Dr. Brian Dade

These continuing research and educational activities are only loosely coordinated among entities.

Therefore

The rich natural resources of the area remains relatively unknown to the people of Wyoming and to the world.

WHAT DO WE NEED?

W E N E E D !

• GeoScience Center /Museum

- Display Bighorn Basin natural

history

- Educational resource for visitors

& residents

- Support Center for visiting

geoscientists

The Bighorn Basin Geoscience

Center is a new non-profit, tax-

exempt 501(c)(3) corporation

dedicated to geological,

paleontological, and archeological

research and education and to the

conservation of the natural

resources of the northern Bighorn

Basin of Wyoming.

Bighorn Basin GeoScience Bighorn Basin GeoScience CenterCenter

Bighorn Basin Bighorn Basin

GeoScience CenterGeoScience Center

Cliff Manuel, Chairman

President, GeoScience Adventures, Inc., Shell

John Coyne, Vice Chairman

President, Big Horn Federal Savings and Loan,

Greybull

Scott McCollough, Secretary & Treasurer

Attorney at Law, Greybull

Current Board of Directors

1.) Establish a permanent

facility in the Shell Valley of

Wyoming that serves as a museum

and interpretive center for

Bighorn Basin natural resources,

and features the major fossil

discoveries from this part of

Wyoming.

Primary Goals

2.) Provide a repository for type specimens, especially unique scientifically valuable fossils from the northern part of the Bighorn Basin of Wyoming.

Primary Goals

3.) Educate and inspire the public with an understanding and appreciation for the significant scientific and historical values of fossil specimens.

Primary Goals

Museum Concept

Feature Major Discoveries From our Area!

- The major Howe Dinosaur Quarry fossils

- Allosaur “Big Al Two”

- Camarasaurus “E.T.”

- Diplodocus full mount & crest

impressions

- Apatosaurus Baby “Toni”

- Stegosaurus “Lilly”

- Skull Casts

Howe –Stephens Quarry Dinosaurs

DinoRama 2006 Exhibit

Museum Concept

Other Major Fossil Discoveries From the Area!

- The Red Canyon Ranch Stegosaurus “Sarah”

- Rare Middle-Jurassic age Dinosaur Tracks

- Jurassic Marine Reptiles – Ichthyosaur and Plesiosaur

Red Canyon Ranch Stegosaurus “Sarah”One of the most complete Stegosaurus ever found!

Wyoming’s Middle-Jurassic Treasure

Rare Dinosaur Tracks

Marine Reptile Fossils

Ichthyosaur collected by the Smithsonian Team

Plesiosaur pelvis in jacket

Geology of the Bighorn Basin - depicting our rich geological history

1934 Howe Dinosaur Quarry history

- detailed in the book “Bones for Barnum

Brown”

Other Major Displays

Over 500 Million Years of Geologic History on Display in our Area

Sheep Mountain Anticline near Greybull

The K/T Boundary

The Beginning of the Mesozoic Era

(near the mouth of Shell Canyon)

Largest mass extinction event ever, triggering the “Age of

Dinosaurs”

The End of the Mesozoic Era(near the Greybull airport)

Mass extinction event ending the “Age of Dinosaurs”

The Age of Dinosaurs – Beginning to End!

The Barker Howe/ Barnum Brown/ Howe Quarry history

The Siber Team / Howe Quarry history

Displays from other institutions/entities - Smithsonian Institution

- Virginia Museum of Natural History in

Martinsville

- Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

- Iowa State University

- Dartmouth College

Other Bighorn Basin history - The “Bentonite Story”, Oil & Gas Industry

- Humans in the Bighorn Basin, Guest Ranching

Other Major Displays

Bentonite Industry

Sinclair Oil financed the original 1934 Howe Quarry Expedition

near Shell. This expedition inspired the famous Sinclair

“green dinosaur” logo.

Oil and Gas Industry

Guest Ranching (1930’s image)

2006 was the 100th anniversary of the discovery of oil in the

Bighorn Basin

Early Man in the Bighorn Basin

Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin

Deinonychus Site

Bighorn Canyon

Natural Trap Cave

Dinosaur Site

Draper Museum

Howe Quarry

Shell Falls

Dinosaur Tracks

Ancient Mammals

Mammoth Sites

Ancient Plants

Wyo Dino Center

Public Awareness Campaign July, 2006

Kirby Siber exhibited several of his Howe Quarry dinosaur mounts at Dinorama-2006 in Shell, including “Big Al Two”, the most complete Allosaurus specimen ever collected.

This effectively demonstrated the need for a the Bighorn Basin GeoScience Center so that we can conserve and display our natural resources in an appropriate local setting.

Public Awareness Campaign July, 2006

 Thanks to our Dinorama

Sponsors !

- Display Housing & Support

– Dirty Annie’s Country Store

- Dino Specimen Shipping & Setup

– The Hideout

– Saurier Museum

– Black Hills Institute

- Promotion, Advertising, Logistics

– GeoScience Adventures

- Logistical /Financial Assistance

- Big Horn Rural Electric Co.

- Tri State

- TCT West

Phase Two

Preplanning and Site Selection - Establish a Strategic Planning Team

- Pursue grants for Preplanning & Design of Museum and

Exhibits.

- Solicit donation of real property for museum site.

- Prepare specifications for Museum and Exhibits

Construction Program - Pursue funding for construction of Museum and Exhibits.

Planned Activities

November 2006

Estimated CostsMuseum & Exhibits:

Estimated Initial Costs:Planning - $

500,000

Property - 500,000

Construction - 3,000,000

Exhibits / Displays - 2,000,000

Grants/Donations Needed:

Planning - Building / Exhibit

Designs

Real Property - Land, Utilities, Excavation, etc.

Construction - 20,000 sq. ft. @ $150/sq. ft.

Exhibits / Displays - “Adopt an Exhibit” Sponsors

Annual Attendance Projection

A first-class museum and interpretive center situated on U.S. Highway 14 near Shell, Wyoming, will draw an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 visitors annually, based on estimates of tourist traffic and

local visitations.

Other regional institutions annual attendance estimates:• Shell Falls Visitor Center 50,000 (est)• Buffalo Bill Historical Center 240,000 *• Wyoming Dinosaur Center 32,000 *• Devils Tower 450,000 *

* Source – Official Museum Directory 2005

An estimated 350,000 - 400,000 people travel over the Bighorn Mountain through Shell on highway 14 during the summer months

If just 15 % of those visitors stop at the museum, annual attendance could approach 50,000 visitors with annual income estimated at $250,000 to $300,000

Annual Income Projection

W H A T DO W E N E E D ?

Government and Local Support:

• Recognition of the area’s need for the

museum

• Promotion of Wyoming’s natural

resources

• Financial Assistance

Cooperating Entities (Potential)• Saurier Museum Aathal, Zurich, Switzerland• Howe Quarry Property Owners• Red Canyon Ranch Property Owners• Flitner Ranch• State of Wyoming & Neighboring States• USDI - Bureau of Land Management (BLM)• Iowa State University• Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of

Natural History• Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville• Draper Museum of Natural History, Cody• National Park Service• Local Businesses and Institutions

W H A T DO W E N E E D ?

Advisory Group (proposed)• Erik Kvale Ph.D. Senior Scientist, Devon Energy Corp

• Chris Dimock Businessman, Cody

• David Flitner Flitner Ranch, Shell

• Meredith Scott MD. Landowner, Shell

• Rick Magstadt Vice President Manufacturing, Wyo-Ben, Inc.

• Dan Close M-I SWACO

• John Ed Anderson Red Canyon Ranch, Shell

• H. J. (Kirby) Siber Director, Saurier Museum Aathal, Zurich, Switzerland

• James Farlow Ph.D. Professor of Geology, Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne

• Nicholas Fraser Ph.D. Curator, Virginia Museum of Natural History at Martinsville

• M. Brett-Surman Ph.D. Museum Specialist, Smithsonian Institution

• Brian Dade Ph.D. Professor of Geology, Dartmouth College

• Angela Botzer Production Editor, International Editions, National Geographic

W H A T DO W E N E E D ?

What are our neighboring states doing?Montana advertises the

Montana Dinosaur Trail . . .

. . . Museums or Interpretive Centers in thirteen localities in Montana.

Fort Peck Museum – Montana

Featuring “Peck’s Rex”

Phillips County Museum – Montana

Featuring “Leonardo” – (mummified dinosaur)

Utah and Colorado both advertise the Dinosaur Diamond . .

What are our neighboring states doing?

. . . A “Road Map” to museums and dinosaur localities in Utah and Colorado.

Price, Utah Museum

Castle Dale, Utah Museum

Woodland Park, Colorado Museum

The Black Hills of South Dakota advertises the Black Hills Museum Alliance with eleven museums in the area bordering eastern Wyoming . . .

. . . South Dakota Museum of Geology and Paleontology featuring local rocks and fossils

. . . Black Hills Museum of Natural History featuring the T-rex “Stan”

What are our neighboring states doing?

. . . The Mammoth Site – a National Natural Landmark featuring in-situ display of fossil mammoth bones

What is Wyoming doing?What is Wyoming doing?

Unlike our neighboring

states, “Wyoming’s Official

State Travel Website”

contains only general

information about dinosaur

sites.

Wyoming Visitor Center – Evanston, Wyoming 2006

(one dinosaur related brochure)

Brochure for Wyoming Dinosaur Center

Our neighboring states

are promoting their

natural resources . . .

. . . W E C A N A L S

O !

Bighorn Basin / Big Horn MountainsThere Really is a Pot of Gold here

January, 2007

CONTACT:

Cliff Manuel, Chairman

Bighorn Basin GeoScience Center

1802 Highway 14 E

Shell, Wyoming 82441

Phone: (307 765-2259 or (866) 765-2259

E-mail: [email protected]

Internet: www.bbgeoscience.org