This Utah Building Was Put Around a Cliff With Approximately 1,500 Dinosaur Bones
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The Quarry Exhibit Hall is built around a cliff face that displays approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones. Visitors can see real fossils in situ, meaning fossils left embedded in the rock where they were found.
The wall makes this place unusual: you stand close to fossils that have stayed in the cliff for millions of years. Inside, you can also learn how the site came to light and what the bones reveal about life long ago. Plan time to look slowly, not just snap a quick picture. The fossil wall is the centerpiece, while the indoor exhibits add context to what visitors see.
Key Takeaways
- See about 1,500 dinosaur bones still in the cliff.
- Learn what in situ means before you visit.
- Look beyond the fossil wall to the indoor exhibits.
- Set aside enough time for a close look.
- Bring questions about the site’s story and fossils.
What Can You See at the Dinosaur National Monument Quarry Exhibit Hall?
The Quarry Wall is a real fossil deposit, not a reconstruction assembled for visitors. Its in situ fossils show bones where they were found, and about 1,500 dinosaur bones remain visible in the cliff.
The bones date to the Late Jurassic Period, about 150 million years ago. An ancient stream deposited them here, leaving them in their original positions.
How the Bones Stayed in the Cliff
Some bones still connect, while most lie loose within the rock. The deposit includes eight dinosaur species, including Stegosaurus and Allosaurus.
The bones were not arranged for visitors; their positions show how the stream left them.
Paleontologist Earl Douglass discovered the quarry in 1909. The Quarry Exhibit Hall opened in 1958, with the building fitted around the fossil-bearing cliff.
What to Look for in the Fossil Wall
Look for the long bones and clusters that seem to overlap. You can touch real dinosaur fossils at several spots in the hall, then compare their shapes with the wall.
An 80-foot mural shows animals from the Morrison environment. Smaller exhibits add detail about the fossils, the landscape, and the work that brought the site to public view.
Quarry Exhibit Hall photos can capture the wall, but they cannot show its full depth in person. Dinosaur National Monument photos can include both the fossil display and its wider setting. For a broader reading list about remarkable places shaped by human history, see these ancient sites.
Rangers staff the hall year-round when road access to the Quarry is clear. The listed visitor activity lasts 30-240 minutes, depending on how long you spend at each display. Leave enough time to look closely at both the fossil wall and the smaller exhibits.
How Do You Get to the Quarry Exhibit Hall and Plan a Visit?
Start at the Quarry Visitor Center, then choose the shuttle, a drive, or the trail based on the season and your party’s needs. The hall stands about a quarter mile from the visitor center, and the best route depends on access and mobility. The hall has no separate activity fee.
The Quarry Exhibit Hall is a separate building about a three-minute drive from the Quarry Visitor Center. For broader trip ideas, browse quieter U.S. attractions while planning other stops.
Choose a Route from the Quarry Visitor Center
A free summer shuttle runs every 15 minutes because parking is limited. Driving can suit visitors when the shuttle is not running or when mobility or pet needs call for a car. The 1.2-mile Fossil Discovery Trail is another option when trail conditions allow.
| Option | Route or cost | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Summer shuttle | Free, every 15 minutes | During summer service |
| Personal vehicle | Three-minute drive | When shuttle service stops or driving suits access needs |
| Fossil Discovery Trail | 1.2 miles one way | When trail conditions allow |
Is Dinosaur National Park the Correct Name?
Dinosaur National Monument is the official name; it is not Dinosaur National Park. The Quarry Visitor Center and Quarry Exhibit Hall are separate buildings, so use the visitor center as your starting point for directions.
Check Hours, Fees, and Visitor Access
The listed schedule is 8 a.m.-6 p.m. from May 21 through September 5, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. the rest of the year. The $25 2026 entrance fee covers one private vehicle for seven consecutive days; it does not add a hall activity fee.
An indoor and outdoor ramp connects the first and second floors, but the hall has no elevator. A wheelchair is available to borrow. The shuttle’s first step has about 12 inches of ground clearance, which may affect boarding.
Pets cannot enter the hall, ride the shuttle, or use the Fossil Discovery Trail. Elsewhere, leashes must be no longer than six feet.
NPS rules prohibit possessing, removing, digging, or disturbing fossilized paleontological specimens in NPS areas, except as allowed by regulation. The NPS fossil rule applies within those areas and does not set a blanket rule for fossils from other land.
- Confirm road access to the Quarry.
- Check the current hours.
- Verify whether the shuttle is running.
- Plan around mobility needs and pet restrictions.
Check current road conditions and operating hours before setting out.
Conclusion
The Quarry Exhibit Hall offers a close view of fossils still embedded in the rock that preserved them. Few places let you stand beside a fossil deposit in its original position and study the bones at your own pace.
Give yourself room to notice details that a quick glance misses. The smaller displays can help you connect the fossil wall with the ancient environment and the work that uncovered it.
Park staff can help make those details clearer, whether you are curious about a shape in the cliff or the site’s history. Make a short list of questions you want to ask a ranger, then keep it handy during your visit.
