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Chicago dino sights and sites



I spent three business and pleasure days in Chicago,
taking in the dinosaur and related sites.  The 
Jobaria/Dinosaur Giants exhibit at the Navy Pier is 
extremely well done.  Navy Pier has a glass-enclosed 
exhibit space, with shops, an IMAX theatre, 
restaurants, and an amusement park outside.  The 
Jobaria adult specimen is mounted in a rearing 
position, protecting the sub-adult.  These are casts, 
but there is a real bone (a femur) on display for the 
children to touch.  A cast of Afrovenator menaces
(oops, this isn't Reuters) nearby.  

I was in attendance when Gabrielle Lyon met with a 
group of 5th graders to talk about the exhibit and the
expedition to Niger.  She has a rare talent for
conveying the excitement of scientific discoveries to 
youngsters, and the kids were totally enthralled.  They
had just visited the lab at the University of Chicago 
and now could see the results of the prep work and hear
about the expedition.  Gabrielle is the director of 
Project Exploration, a foundation which has an 
ambitious and impressive vision for combining science
with education, including Sisters in Science and the Junior Paleontologists 
program.

I also saw the Suchomimus on display at the Children's 
Museum, which is connected to Navy Pier.  This specimen
is amazing to see in person, with its unbelieveably
narrow snout.  

During my stay, I was pleased to talk with Jack Conrad,
Jeff Wilson, and Hans Larsson.  Dr. Sereno's lab at the
University of Chicago reminded me of the quotation from
Howard Carter, when asked if he could see anything upon 
peering into Tutankahmen's tomb:  "Yes, wonderful 
things."  Wait for the papers!

A side visit to the Field Museum to sort-of see Sue 
revealed the McDonald's Fossil Preparation Lab and a 
great barrier which blocked the Sue mount from the 
public.  They are running "Sue, the Inside Story" on a
continuous loop by the lab.  The short film features 
Chris Brochu and an abbreviated story of Sue's past and
future.  The grand opening is May 17.  I also saw the 
Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit while there.  Attending this
on the day after its opening was probably not the most
uncrowded of conditions, but gave one an idea of what
visitors to the Sue circus will be facing. 

I was also privileged to visit with John Lanzendorf and
see his spectacular paleo art collection in place 
before it goes on display at the Field to coincide with
the Sue opening.  John has sponsored an annual award 
for paleo artists (the John J. Lanzendorf PaleoArt 
Award), to be given out at the annual SVP meetings. 
(See the SVP site for details on applying.)  

For those who missed the Jobaria/Dinosaur Giants 
exhibit, it is heading for the National Geographic 
headquarters in Washington, D.C. soon after its March
19 close in Chicago.

Mary
mkirkaldy@aol.com