Dino Land Travels Database: Fryxell Geology Museum-Augustana College

DINO LAND TRAVELS PHOTO DATABASE

FRYXELL GEOLOGY MUSEUM AUGUSTANA COLLEGE-ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS

During spring break of 2000 I had the chance to be treated to a tour of the Fryxell Geology Museum of Augustana College by Professor William Hammer, the man who discovered and named the first known Antarctic carnivorous dinosaur-Cryolophosaurus. My favorite part of the tour was my visit to the museum basement, where the type specimen of Cryolophosaurus is kept. During this viewing I had the chance to examine the skull, femur, hips, vertebrae, and teeth of Cryolophosaurus, plus the remains of associated prosauropods, scavenging dinosaurs, and reptiles.

But, I also had the chance to learn more about the museum itself. This quote is taken from the museum guide:

"The geology museum at Augustana has its roots in the 19th centuray as a natural history collection established by Josua Lindahl, the college's first professor of science. The collections of geological, zoological, ethnological, and historical artifacts grew over the years, with many contributions by J.A. Udden, who taught natural science courses from 1888-1911. In 1924, Fritiof M. Fryxell joined the faculty and began to expand the geology curriculum and to establish a geology museum from material culled from the old natural history collections. In 1929, he became Augustana's first professor of geology, founding both the department and the museum with the philosophy that the earth sciences are a basic component of a liberal arts education."

Here is a list of photos I took at the museum, including those of Cryolophosaurus, other dinosaurs, reptiles, Ice Age mammals, Mazon Creek specimens, and earlier Ordovician fossils, plus the remains of pterosaurs and mosasaurs.

CRYOLOPHOSAURUS

Cryolophosaurus skull

Cryolophosaurus crest

Cryolophosaurus lower jaw

Cryolophosaurus hipbones and femur

Cryolophosaurus ribs

Cryolophosaurus vertebrae

Cryolophosaurus tooth

Plants found in situ with Cryolophosaurus

Reptile skulls found in situ with Cryolophosaurus

Reptile footprint found in situ with Cryolophosaurus

MESOZOIC SPECIMENS