This is Throwback Thursday #206. In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general. If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc ...), please sent them to [email protected]. Thanks!
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If you visit the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, chances are you'll venture up to the Evolving Planet exhibit. A large Apatosaurus skeleton stands tall in Dinosaur Hall. The bones (or at least the back half) were discovered near Fruita, Colorado in 1901 by Elmer Riggs (1869-1963). Riggs was the Field Museum's "dinosaur hunter" from 1898 until the 1930's. He discovered many fossil animals during his career, including the Torvosaurus tanneri, Thylacosmilus (a marsupial "lion"), and Apatosaurus. His assistant, H. William Menke, found the first Brachiosaurus altithorax near Grand Junction, Colorado in 1900.
The Apatosaurus was assembled and put on display in 1908. It was a partial skeleton mount. And, it stayed that way until 1958.
Construction progress in 1921, erecting Apatosaurus skeleton, no skull. Ropes, pulleys and wooden assembly and windows with shades drawn, blocked out in Hall 38, Fossil Vertebrates. overview Geology specimen Pr25112
Riggs’ Apatosaurus mount stood unfinished from 1908-1958. Image courtesy of the Field Museum Photo Archives.
Notice the Charles Knight paintings in the background.
A postcard of the partial Apatosaurus at the south end of Hall 38. Image courtesy of the Field Museum Photo Archives.
In 1958, FM preparator Orville Gilpin completed the partial mount with a front half of an Apatosaur skeleton discovered by Edward Holt near Green River, Utah. Unfortunately, it was originally constructed incorrectly with a Camarasaurus skull.
Orville Gilpin finally completed the FMNH Apatosaurus in 1958.
The Apatosaurus skeleton in its present state... completed and with the correct skull.
I've always been partial to the Field Museum's Mold-a-rama of Apatosaurus.
Which looks suspiciously like the Charles Knight painting of Apatosaurus.
References
History of the Field Museum Fossil Halls - Part 1
