STERNBERG MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - HAYS, KANSAS
STERNBERG MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY - HAYS, KANSAS
This is a museum that you will enjoy since the displays rotate giving you the opportunity to view the collections on display. Although the University has over 3,750,000 items they only show a small portion of them at a time. The permanent exhibits on the main floor of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History include fossils collected from across Kansas and (mostly) around the western US. There are also mineral exhibits and videos explaining the history of the museum and story of the collecting of the museum’s famous "Fish within a fish."
You will encounter life size displays recreating the seas of Kansas from 70 million years ago and leading up to displays of what might have been found near the shore. Some of the recreated life size prehistoric animals move or make noises. That really adds to the experience!
Location:
Fort Hays State University
3000 Sternberg Drive
Hays, KS 67601
Phone:
(877) 332-1165
Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 9 AM - 7 PM Sunday 1 - 7 PM
Adults: $6 4-12 & over 60: $4
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A fossil found at Fossil Oregon sometime in 1960 is now in my pocession.
It is my opinion the specimen is not “one” but “two” infant Basilosaurs sea- serpents from the late Eocene period. One of the sea creatures is “intact” while only a chest cavity of the second remains set in stone beside the other.
As you well know, the Basilosaurs were world-wide once teeming ancient seas; Their length would have expanded 40-80 feet with a weight of 7 tons.
When research first began on these “two” fossils, I was almost certain the creatures were “sea-horses” as is similar in size and mass to what a modern day sea-horse might look like today. Further research turned more toward ancient whales in make up and appearance. I finally come to the conclusion the fossils are probably “infant” Basilosaurus sea-serpents.
An attempt to photograph the sea serpents is now under way. Hopeful with added light that a clear image of the two fossils might soon be developed for further research and study. May I also send you a photograph to keep on file for your records? Any feed back from professioanl paleontogists will also be appreciated.
In Research, Larry