What Was Dr. Johnson Trying To Do Here?
This is part of a farm Dr. Johnson purchased over forty years ago to raise boys who knew how to work. Taxes have increased as this land changed from farm to commercial land. Dr. Johnson loves to work, so he was preparing this land for future development. He was hauling dirt and rocks away to lower this high point on his farm. He had been working about a year when he noticed the first sign of dinosaurs in February of 2000.

How Did He Know What To Look For?

Dr. Johnson had seen dinosaur tracks above Washington, and near Fort Pearce. Professor Kelly Bringhurst, geology instructor at Dixie State College of Utah, suggested that, reaching the Jurassic layer of rock as he lowered the high ground, we should watch for dinosaur tracks.
How did he know they were casts of dinosaur feet?
At first he was confused. He had seen dinosaur tracks in rocks before, but never something that looked like this. It looked like a dinosaur was hidden inside the rock, with a foot sticking out. When he lifted the next rock and looked underneath, he saw a footprint in some brittle clay. Above the footprint, on the bottom of the rock, was a cast of the foot that made the footprint. He has since learned that about two hundred million years ago dinosaurs walked here and stepped in about eight inches of clay that was not too wet nor too dry. The clay rested on a layer of rock. Those footprints filled with sand, eventually becoming the thick layers of sandstone we now see. After these stones were turned upside down we can see what the bottom of dinosaur feet looked like on that long ago day when the clay was perfect.
What did he think when he found them?
Dr. Johnson was very excited. He couldn't wait to turn over another rock. He wondered who he could talk to, who would listen, who might come help him decide the wisest thing to do. When his wife, LaVerna, e-mailed the National Museum of Natural History to ask for help, they suggested she call Utah's State Paleontologist. We contacted Dr. James Kirkland and he has been very helpful.
What are 'they' going to do with these?
We have learned that 'they' is 'us'! Because they were found on private property, the government has no claim on them. We have many choices of what to do with them. We have enjoyed sharing this with people. Everyone has been kind, helpful and enthusiastic about the need to preserve this natural treasure. What will we do?

What the Johnsons did was to donate the tracks and the land they were found on. They worked with scientists, local business, and government officials on the local, state, and national level to create the museum that is here today. They founded the DinosaurAH!Torium, the foundation that continues to preserve this site for a creative learning environment with hands on activities that will challenge, enlighten, and entertain the minds of all who come. Your help is needed! You are invited to 'Make your own Impression'. Click on the 'Membership', 'Adopt Tracks', or 'Volunteers' links on the left.