A to Z Texas: D is for Dinosaurs
While many American states have official fossils, only eight – including Texas – have an official state dinosaur. (For those interested, here’s a full list 8 Official State Dinosaurs) The Lone Star State’s official dino is called Pauluxysaurus Jonesi and looks like a huge brontosaurus.
Biggest Dinosaur Ever
Just as you might expect, this being Texas, our state dinosaur isn’t just big, it is – arguably – the biggest creature ever to walk the earth!
Dinosaur Tracks in Glen Rose, Texas
What’s great about the Texas state dinosaur is that you don’t have to visit a museum to see evidence of its existence. Much like the famous movie star handprints in front of Grumman’s Chinese in Los Angeles, Pauluxysaurus Jonesi left several footprints behind in and around the little north Texas town of Glen Rose. The fossilized dinosaur footprint in the photo above, for instance, is on display in the gazebo at the historic town square of Glen Rose.
Check out my post, Dinosaurs Galore for information on where to see these footprints as well as more photos on the subject.
More A to Z blog posts
This was my post for the letter D of the A to Z blogging challenge. Tune in tomorrow to see what quirky Texan thing the letter E will bring!
In the meantime, click on this link to find out what other A to Z blogging challenge folks are writing about.
Tui Snider is an author, speaker, and photographer who specializes in North Texas travel, cemetery symbols, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction – but then, I moved to Texas!”
Snider’s best-selling books include Paranormal Texas , Understanding Cemetery Symbols, and 100 Things to Do in Dallas - Fort Worth Before You Die.
Snider has several more books in progress, and enjoys connecting with writers and readers all over the globe through social media, her newsletter and her website: TuiSnider.com.
[…] in Texas we have everything from an official state cooking vessel (Dutch oven) to an official state dinosaur (Pauluxysauras Jonesi.) We don’t yet have an official state vehicle, but if we did, it would surely be the pick-up […]
I didn’t know Texas had dinosaurs, so that’s my “something new” learned for today. My home state in Australia, Queensland, also has significant dinosaur sites and remains.
Wow, that is one fine dinosaur footprint. Really amazing if you think about it.
Thanks for visiting me as it helped me to find you. I am a new follower.
Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
AtoZ #42
This is so wonderful! I love dinosaurs. Well, I like them in the movies or in the museum, not in my face. Or I should say in his face.
And here I thought I knew everything about Texas… Cool!
Cool!
Amazing to be able to see that footprint so many years later. Dinosaurs fascinate me.
Your other posts are intriguing, too.
Barbara
Visiting from A to Z
Great photography! Never knew ANY states had a state dinosaur, let alone Texas. So cool!
I would love to see that. I have only been to Texas once and didn’t get to catch any of it.
Returning visit from A to Z. Thanks for coming by.
Brett Minor
Transformed nonconformist
Hi Brett,
Yes, it’s a bummer when you merely go through a place instead of truly go to a place!
Next time, right?
Thanks for swinging by! I’m really enjoying making new friends through the A to Z challenge.
~Tui
There are also dinosaur footprints in the bed of the Guadalupe River in the Hunt, Texas area. I’ve seen those. Maybe we’ll make it up to Glen Rose one day.
Hi Carol,
I highly recommend visiting Glen Rose. It’s a cute town and the bookstore there is wonderful!
I didn’t know about the Guadalupe River dino footprints. I’ll have to look into those!
Thanks!
Tui
As usual, your posts make me want to come to Texas when I never thought it would be a “Travel Destination” I would really care to see. I love seeing it through your eyes and hope someday I can take the time to travel all over Texas to see all of these wonderful sites!
Hi Morgan,
Your reaction is just what I hope for when I put together these posts!
Frankly, I didn’t even realize how fascinating Texas is until I moved here, so I know what you mean.
Tui
My mom and dad took me camping at Dinosaur Valley park in Glen Rose when I was about six or seven years old. I CLEARLY remember the statues of the dinosaurs, and being so excited to see their footprints. At the time I was a bit of a mini-paleontologist and was hoping to find that one LAST REMAINING dinosaur that was still walking the Earth somewhere. I was a little disappointed not to make my scientific discovery, but it sure seemed like an incredibly exotic getaway to one little developing nerd. :)
Hi Charlie,
What a great place for a family trip! Your childhood hope reminds me of a book called “The Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek” in which the main character befriends the last remaining stegosaurus in the world. Anyway, I used to wish for a pet stegosaurus, too, and secretly hoped there were still a few around..
Thanks for stopping by!
Tui
I’ve never really been into dinosaurs but I can see how fascinating they could be!
Hi Corinne,
The little town of Glen Rose is so much fun, too. There are lots of buildings made from petrified wood and stone.
~Tui