The Daily Ardmorite
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Story last updated at 12:58 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 1998
Museum is home to Acrocanthosaurus and more
By Andrea Perry
Staff Writer
Though it hasn't quite reached Jurassic Park status, the Goddard Children's
Museum has just the right appeal to capture the imagination of children and
adults.
The members of the Goddard Youth Foundation board of directors
conducted a grand opening celebration Tuesday for the Goddard Children's
Museum located on the grounds of the Goddard Youth Camp.
The Goddard Youth Camp is open to any non-profit youth organization. Since
its inception in 1967, the camp has served more than 160,000 children from
Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
"We're so proud of all of the exhibits and we've already got schools
scheduled to come out and tour the museum," said Wayne Edgar, executive
director of the Goddard Youth Camp and Children's Museum.
The museum features the most complete dinosaur fossil cast ever found.
The museum is dominated by the display of the Acrocanthosaurus. The
full-scale fossil is 18 feet tall, 39 feet long with a skull that is 4 feet, 7 inches
long. The dinosaur is nicknamed "Fran" after Francis Graffham, who was
responsible in part for the dig that led to the discovery of the dinosaur.
Quartz crystals from southern Oklahoma provide experiences for the public
to learn about the crystal formation process.
Also included in the display are illustrations painted by Wayne Edgar Jr. that
depict the appearances of prehistoric Oklahoma. Adjacent to the display area
is an audio-visual room for films and presentation.
Located outside the museum is a fossil pit. Children come equipped with
shovels and buckets and get to dig for fossils themselves. The pit has been
filled with cemented in particles of Triceratops bones. The area is also
sanded with various shark's teeth and other small fossils the children are
able to keep.
All of the items on display in the museum have been found in Oklahoma,
with the exception of the Acrocanthosaurus.
Those interested in tour information may call the museum at (580) 993-3333.
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Story last updated at 12:58 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 1998
Museum is home to Acrocanthosaurus and more
By Andrea Perry
Staff Writer
Though it hasn't quite reached Jurassic Park status, the Goddard Children's
Museum has just the right appeal to capture the imagination of children and
adults.
The members of the Goddard Youth Foundation board of directors
conducted a grand opening celebration Tuesday for the Goddard Children's
Museum located on the grounds of the Goddard Youth Camp.
The Goddard Youth Camp is open to any non-profit youth organization. Since
its inception in 1967, the camp has served more than 160,000 children from
Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
"We're so proud of all of the exhibits and we've already got schools
scheduled to come out and tour the museum," said Wayne Edgar, executive
director of the Goddard Youth Camp and Children's Museum.
The museum features the most complete dinosaur fossil cast ever found.
The museum is dominated by the display of the Acrocanthosaurus. The
full-scale fossil is 18 feet tall, 39 feet long with a skull that is 4 feet, 7 inches
long. The dinosaur is nicknamed "Fran" after Francis Graffham, who was
responsible in part for the dig that led to the discovery of the dinosaur.
Quartz crystals from southern Oklahoma provide experiences for the public
to learn about the crystal formation process.
Also included in the display are illustrations painted by Wayne Edgar Jr. that
depict the appearances of prehistoric Oklahoma. Adjacent to the display area
is an audio-visual room for films and presentation.
Located outside the museum is a fossil pit. Children come equipped with
shovels and buckets and get to dig for fossils themselves. The pit has been
filled with cemented in particles of Triceratops bones. The area is also
sanded with various shark's teeth and other small fossils the children are
able to keep.
All of the items on display in the museum have been found in Oklahoma,
with the exception of the Acrocanthosaurus.
Those interested in tour information may call the museum at (580) 993-3333.
An Acrocanthosaurus seems to chase a group of
visitors at Tuesday's grand opening of the Goddard
Children's Museum near Sulphur. The dinosaur
fossil is a cast of an original which is the most
complete fossil ever found.
Staff Photo/Don Alquist
