Texas Memorial Museum Austin, Texas 2007

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School Field Trip Time!

We always take our kids to the Memorial Museum to look at the fossils. The Memorial Museum is free and located on the University of Texas campus. Its two grown jewels are the Quetzalcoatlus and the Onion Creek Mosasaur. Both are HUGE fossils of ancient dinosaurs.

The Quezalcoatlus dominates the Great Hall as you walk in. It is suspended from the ceiling and you can imagine it swooping down to snatch your pets and children for a mid-afternoon snack. The wingspan of the pterosaur is HUGE. It was discovered in the Big Bend area of Texas. So I guess the old adage of everything being bigger in Texas is true.

The Onion Creek Mosasaur was found here in the Austin area at Onion Creek. It looks like a cross between an alligator and a fish. Its huge teeth give you a clue as to what it ate for dinner. I wouldn't want to be swimming in the waters with a beast like that. It is located in the bottom floor along with other fossils of dinosaurs and ice age fossils.

The upper floor is mostly a taxidermists dream come true with stuffed animals showcasing the different habitats of Texas.

For the free price this museum was a fun place to visit.

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Photos

The Quetzalcoatlus
Largest Pterosaur....EVER! It takes up the full ceiling of the Great Hall.

The Quetzalcoatlus From Below
Can you imagine it swooping down to snatch away your pets and kids and grandmas?

Fossil Stars
One of my favorite fossils at the museum. Almost looks like a work of ceramic art.

Hall of Geology and Paleantology
Plenty of fossils for everyone.

Fossil Fish
Super-pirana!

Armored Fossil
He'd be kind of hard to chew on.

Sloth
Prehistoric sloths were HUGE.

Prehistoric Fossil
Random fossil in the Hall.

Glyptodon
This was kind of like a prehistoric armadillo.

Diptogon?
I can't remember what this fan backed dino's name was.

Big Bear
Stuffed bear sniffing you.

Mine! Mine!
Mountain Lion, Puma, Cougar, Panther...Big Kitty.