Celebrate Dinosaur Day June 6 at Petrified Forest National Park

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News Release Date: May 25, 2017
Contact: Adam Marsh, 928-524-6228 x263

Petrified Forest, AZ–Some 32 years ago, park paleontologist Bryan Small discovered remains of a brand new dinosaur to science at Petrified Forest National Park. Chindesaurus bryansmalli was a small carnivore, billed at the time as the oldest dinosaur ever found on the planet. Word of this discovery made international news. When "Gertie" (the nickname the fossil became known as) was airlifted out of the park's wilderness on June 6, 1985, it was an international media event.
 
Help us celebrate the 32^nd anniversary of Gertie’s flight by watching films, looking at real fossils, experimenting with the fossilization processes, taking home a fossil cast, coloring Gertie, and experiencing a new interactive exhibit regarding evolutionary origins of early dinosaurs.

When: Tuesday June 6, 2017, 10am – 4pm
Where: Community Building adjacent to Painted Desert Visitor Center (exit 311 off of I-40)
 
Schedule:
10am & 12:30pm  Film: Whopping Small Dinosaur
10:30am, 11:30am, 2pm  Table activities
11:30am  Talk: Triassic Dinosaur Imposters
12pm & 1:30pm Film: Dinosaurs Alive
1pm Talk: Early Dinosaur Evolution on the Colorado Plateau
 
Use the hashtag #PEFODinosaurDay if you visit and check in with social media!
Visit www.nps.gov/pefo or the park’s official Facebook page for more information.
 

Tags: dinosaur, gertie, chindesaurus, dino, dino day, fossils, paleontology, petrified forest, national park

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