Dinosaur Fossil Found In Denver Museum Parking Lot

A rare dinosaur fossil was recently discovered buried below the parking lot of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science by a complete stroke of luck.

Dinosaur bones are rather common in Colorado, as the state is home to places like Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita, and even a town near the Utah border named, simply, Dinosaur.

However, this particular fossil is special for a couple of reasons.

What Makes the Fossil Found in Denver, Colorado, So Special?

The fossil was once part of a plant-eating dinosaur's vertebra and is estimated to date back as far as 67.5 million years, making it the oldest dinosaur fossil to ever have been discovered in Denver city limits.

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What's more, the prehistoric dinosaur bone was discovered by accident.

How Did the Denver, Colorado Museum Accidentally Find the Fossil?

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science discovered the fossil 763 feet underneath its parking lot, but the crews that were digging the hole weren't looking for fossils.

In fact, the museum was conducting experiments related to geology in the parking lot and attempting to convert natural gas into geothermal energy.

This type of work is ongoing in the museum's parking lot, and the discovery of the dinosaur fossil was just a happy accident.

Despite belonging to what was once a herbivore, the partial vertebra fossil is currently on display at the museum's Teen Rex exhibit, which features fossils from a juvenile Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Take a look at the fossil by visiting the museum's official Facebook page here.

Check out Colorado’s Fun and Educational Dinosaur Ridge

Just outside of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater is a really cool attraction called Dinosaur Ridge with dinosaur bones, fossils, and fun for the whole family.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde