In 2000, a local optometrist Dr. Sheldon Johnson was leveling a hill on his property in St. George, when he found a thick level of sandstone as he removed layers of sedimentary rock. As he removed large blocks of rocks, Dr. Johnson discovered a fully preserved, three-dimensional dinosaur track that was visible in both the brittle clay below and also on the bottom of the sandstone block. The track was just one of thousands made by dinosaurs and other animals almost 200 million years ago on the shores of an ancient lake near St. George and within the broader Colorado Plateau and surrounding areas that are world-renowned for the high concentration of Triassic-Jurassic fossil resources.
Experts converged on the site to verify and reveal an extensive “trackway” found on the farm. Realizing that these dinosaur tracks would be best served if they were maintained for scientific and educational purposes, Dr. Johnson and his wife LaVerna donated the found tracks and arranged for the land to be cared for by the City of St. George. This is now the museum found here today at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm.
But it’s not just the in situ dinosaur tracks that draw local and international geology enthusiasts year after year. Many other fossils have been found in the area (like fish bones, dinosaur bones, leaves and plant seeds, and aquatic animal shells) that have allowed paleontologists to reconstruct the approximately 200-million-year-old ecosystem, with a clarity that some call “unprecedented” and a “rarity for rocks of any time period.”
The museum isn’t just for geologists. Families and children will have a great time here following dinosaur tracks along the ground, making tracks on their own, uncovering replica fossils or putting together dinosaur puzzles.
The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site is also great for solo travelers with a copy of "Roadside Geology of Utah" who are looking to deepen their appreciation of a place whose red rock splendor is so visible it begs a closer look.
Plan Your Trip
St. George, Utah, is the largest city in southwestern Utah and is home to a wide range of great restaurants, shopping and other city amenities. The city is a gateway to some of Utah's most famous parks and destinations. Many visitors travel to the area for Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks, but full vacation itineraries are easily created by including state parks such as Snow Canyon, Sand Hollow and Kodachrome Basin, and vast outdoor landscapes like Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.
To find events at the museum during your visit, check out the museum website.
The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site is located at 2180 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790.
Museum Hours and Admission
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Monday. Closed Tuesdays and some holidays (Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
Admission prices are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (70+), $5 for children (5-17) and children 4 and under are free.
GPS Coordinates: 37.101096, -113.5369087
