Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, is gearing up for its highly anticipated annual Dinosaur Day celebration, marking 59 years since the groundbreaking discovery of ancient dinosaur footprints at the site in 1966. This cherished event invites visitors of all ages to step back in time, offering a unique opportunity to connect with the region’s profound natural history and explore relics from a prehistoric era.
The celebration, a cornerstone event for the park, promises a day packed with captivating activities designed to educate and entertain. Attendees will have the rare chance to explore the famed dinosaur footprints, which are typically preserved, and delve into a world where science, history, and family fun seamlessly intertwine, all set against the backdrop of Connecticut’s rich geological heritage.
Scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dinosaur Day provides free access to the primary footprint exhibits, allowing visitors to marvel at the 200-million-year-old tracks in their original location. Beyond this central attraction, the event unfolds with a diverse array of engaging experiences, from interactive science demonstrations to live animal encounters, alongside an assortment of food vendors and spirited games.
Among the many highlights, guests can explore the park’s main exhibits, including the iconic dinosaur tracks and the geology display, which offer deep insights into the Earth’s past. The day’s itinerary also features dynamic shows such as a reptile presentation and a bird show, complemented by dinosaur-themed craft-making sessions, sluice mining for a nominal fee, and a musical performance by acclaimed folk artist Liz McNicholl, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Howard Horn, president of the Friends of Dinosaur State Park, a dedicated nonprofit supporting the park’s mission, emphasized the unparalleled significance of this site. He highlighted that Dinosaur State Park stands as one of the few places globally where dinosaur tracks remain displayed in their original discovery location, underscoring its unique contribution to paleontology and public understanding of prehistoric life.
The park currently showcases 753 exposed Eubrontes Giganteus dinosaur tracks, a testament to the diverse ecology that thrived 200 million years ago. An additional thousand footprints, discovered concurrently in 1966, were carefully reburied in 1976 for preservation, while a total of 2,600 individual footprints were found. Although the specific dinosaur species responsible for these prehistoric tracks remains a scientific mystery, it is widely believed to resemble the Dilophosaurus.
Horn further articulated the broader mission of Connecticut State Parks, which extends beyond mere preservation to fostering a deeper appreciation for Connecticut History, encompassing cultural, natural, and geological aspects. The focus is on enabling visitors to “read the rock,” understanding the stories embedded within the landscape, thereby enriching their outdoor experiences and promoting a lasting connection to the environment.
The event also features immersive Family Events such as interactions with paleontologist re-enactors, a thrilling scavenger hunt, diverse offerings from food trucks, and sightings of a life-sized baby Lotosaurus puppet. Adding to the excitement, dinosaur costume characters will roam the grounds, and the educational film “Dinosaurs of Antarctica” will be screened, catering to the curiosity of both young enthusiasts and seasoned Paleontology buffs.
Both Horn and Ross expressed a collective aspiration to eventually uncover more of the preserved ancient tracks, not only to expand public viewing opportunities but also to facilitate further scientific study. These unexamined Prehistoric Tracks hold immense potential for groundbreaking discoveries, promising to shed new light on the prehistoric era and the creatures that roamed Connecticut millions of years ago, enriching the global understanding of natural history.
