New Haven, CT  –  Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

 Another absolutely classic Stegosaurus skeleton. This is the one originally discovered and studied by paleontologist Othniel Marsh, who gave the dinosaur its name (roughly translated as “roof lizard”) back in the 1800s. Marsh, along with fellow paleontologist Edward Cope discovered over 130 species of dinosaurs including most of the ones that have become the most famous today. This amazing skeleton actually had a few inaccuracies, including being presented with eight spikes on the tail instead of four. Unfortunately, the tail has been cropped out of this picture, but there are many pictures online where you can see this eight spike display if you’re interested.

Since this photo was taken, the dinosaur section of the Peabody museum has been closed down for a complete renovation. When it reopens sometime in 2023, this specimen will be overhauled and updated to match the latest science. I’m so glad I got to see it in its original form though. It was a great part of dino-history!