Exhibits and Programs A A

Imagine in Action

Imagine a gigantic hadrosaur in a lush green environment reaching atop a 30 foot cypress tree to eat leaves. In the not-so-far distance a volcano quietly erupts with lava flows slowly creating pools or molten rock and the soil is peppered with iron nodules. Welcome to the daily life of Mary Ann the Hadrosaur.

Mary Ann Hadrosaur was found fully articulated in the Hell Creek formation in Montana. Sixty-eight million years ago she lived in a swamp environment and the expedition found cypress tree petrified wood, dawn redwood pine cones, fern leaves, ginko leaves and assorted other leaves and fly larva jackets near her fossilized skeleton. The Hell Creek formation was part of the inland sea that extended from the Gulf of Mexico to the Artic Circle and included the region from the Mississippi River area to more than half of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. the exhibit displays Mary Ann in the environment in which she lived. This is a humid, swamp environment with lush abundant plants for her to eat.

The fossilized skeleton is 90% complete with the outstanding features being the two hoofs and skin impressions on the left foot and the skin impression along the length of the tail.The arms, legs, spine pelvic area and tail were fully encapsulated by iron encrustation, thus preserving the skeleton totally intact. She is thought to be one of the most complete specimens ever found. All of the spines and chevrons associated with the vertebra were intact. Mary Ann Hadrosaur is 30 feet long and 20 feet tall.

Posted March 17, 2015
Categories: Exhibits and Activities

Also at the museum:

Permian Period

The large specimens are complete fossil animals. The lava and flat round sand stone were found on site. The large stones have footprints and tail drags. The Permian Period saw the diversification ...

More On Current Exhibits »

Artifact Identification Weekend

The Naranjo Museum of Natural History here in Lufkin, TX will be hosting an Artifact Identification Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, February 17th & 18th. Saturday will be 10am-5pm and Sunday 1pm-5 ...

More On Blog »

Museum Grand Opening Reception

Colossal Cocktail Reception & Celebration at The Naranjo Museum of Natural History Enjoy the museum up close with fabulous food, beer and wine (adults will be responsible for their children). Doo ...

More On Blog »

Search the Museum


Naranjo Museum of Natural History

Tickets Price
Age 3 & under Free
Age 4 to 18 $5.00
Adults $8.00

Hours of Operation
Monday: Closed
Tues. - Sat.: 10 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 1 PM to 6 PM
Final Admission: 5 PM

For more information, call
(936) 639-3466