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Welcome to the quarry site of Othniel Charles Marsh, where you'll see the burial grounds of some of the most famous dinosaurs in the world.
Welcome to the quarry site of Othniel Charles Marsh, where you'll see the burial grounds of some of the most famous dinosaurs in the world.
But before we head up the trail, take a look at this sign beside me.
But before we head up the trail, take a look at this sign beside me.
This plaque was donated to Garden Park by the Cañon City Geology Club in 1953 and is actually registered as an antiquity.
This plaque was donated to Garden Park by the Cañon City Geology Club in 1953 and is actually registered as an antiquity.
Take a look at the dinosaurs.
What three mistakes can you find?
Well, for one, this sign is supposed to represent the dinosaurs found at the Marsh Quarry, which is Jurassic in age.
Well, for one, this sign is supposed to represent the dinosaurs found at the Marsh Quarry, which is Jurassic in age.
T. rex here comes from the Cretaceous, about 70 million years later.
Brontosaurus isn't called "Brontosaurus" anymore. It's now referred to as "Apatosaurus".
Brontosaurus isn't called "Brontosaurus" anymore. It's now referred to as "Apatosaurus".
And did you get the hardest one?
Look. All the dinosaurs are dragging their tails along the ground, and we now know that dinosaurs didn't do that.
Look. All the dinosaurs are dragging their tails along the ground, and we now know that dinosaurs didn't do that.
Even with the mistakes though, this plaque is really important historically
because it tells us a lot about the paleontological history of the area.
because it tells us a lot about the paleontological history of the area.
Now, as we start up the trail, the first point of interest you'll see is to your left.
The Marsh Quarry area is important and not just because of its paleontological significance.
The Marsh Quarry area is important and not just because of its paleontological significance.
It has a special ecosystem that supports a species of plant that isn't found anywhere else,
so it's been designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.
so it's been designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.
Now let's head further on up the trail to the first major stop, the Marsh Quarry Overlook.
Now let's head further on up the trail to the first major stop, the Marsh Quarry Overlook.
The Marsh Quarry officially opened for dinosaur-hunting business in 1877,
The Marsh Quarry officially opened for dinosaur-hunting business in 1877,
when O. C. Marsh started paying Marshall *** of Cañon City to dig for dinosaur bones during the summer
when O. C. Marsh started paying Marshall *** of Cañon City to dig for dinosaur bones during the summer
in order to keep up with his archrival, Edward Drinker Cope.
"If you'll pay me $75 per month and furnish me with the tools I need, I'll work through the season for that price and board myself.
"If you'll pay me $75 per month and furnish me with the tools I need, I'll work through the season for that price and board myself.
"If you'll pay me $75 per month and furnish me with the tools I need, I'll work through the season for that price and board myself.
It is as cheap as I can work and less than Lucas gets, and I think I can do as much of that work and as well as he can.
It is as cheap as I can work and less than Lucas gets, and I think I can do as much of that work and as well as he can.
If you decide to set me to work, let me know soon.
Then I will fixed my own work and arrange about getting my farm carried on."
Now, you see that U-shaped outline in the cliff face behind me.
That outline is in the shape of a prehistoric stream bed that existed here during Jurassic times.
That outline is in the shape of a prehistoric stream bed that existed here during Jurassic times.
Now, the reason that we have all these great dinosaur fossils in the area is because of that stream bed.
Now, the reason that we have all these great dinosaur fossils in the area is because of that stream bed.
You see, in times of drought, the remaining water would pool up in bends in the stream, where animals would gather to drink.
You see, in times of drought, the remaining water would pool up in bends in the stream, where animals would gather to drink.
If a dinosaur didn't survive the drought, and it died near one of these pools,
its body would get covered in sediments when the rains returned.
Sad news for the dinosaurs, but good news for paleontologists.
Sad news for the dinosaurs, but good news for paleontologists.
Now, before we dig any deeper into the Marsh-*** Quarry, let's head a little bit further up the trail.
Now, before we dig any deeper into the Marsh-*** Quarry, let's head a little bit further up the trail.
Make sure you brought your good shoes, a bottle of water and above all - pff! - your bug repellent.
Make sure you brought your good shoes, a bottle of water and above all - pff! - your bug repellent.
Let's go.
Along the way, you might see the evidence of eons gone by, such as dinosaur tracks or the molds of dinosaur bones.
Along the way, you might see the evidence of eons gone by, such as dinosaur tracks or the molds of dinosaur bones.
Here we are at overlook #2, where you can really get a good idea of what Marsh's quarry looked like.
Here we are at overlook #2, where you can really get a good idea of what Marsh's quarry looked like.
*** didn't have as easy a time removing dinosaur bones as Cope did.
The bones here were brittle and encased in hard sandstone, and back then, every bit of rock was removed with hand tools.
The bones here were brittle and encased in hard sandstone, and back then, every bit of rock was removed with hand tools.
***'s frustrations were evident in his letters to Marsh.
"There is such a mass of rotten ribs, crushed vertebrae, etc.
I could not tell one from the other.
I'll send you the one piece that I am sure of."
*** got frustrated and closed the quarry less than a year after it opened,
but somewhere down the line, he had a change of heart and asked Marsh if he could reopen it -
but somewhere down the line, he had a change of heart and asked Marsh if he could reopen it -
and *** was right to reopen that quarry.
From this quarry come some of the most famous dinosaur fossils ever found,
including nearly complete skeletons of Ceratosaurus, Allosaurus and Stegosaurus, that are now on display at the Smithsonian.
including nearly complete skeletons of Ceratosaurus, Allosaurus and Stegosaurus, that are now on display at the Smithsonian.
Over 250 crates of fossils were sent back to Marsh.
Despite his numerous hardships, *** continued to work the quarry until 1888, when it closed,
Despite his numerous hardships, *** continued to work the quarry until 1888, when it closed,
and then he reopened it for a third time in 1899 for the Carnegie Museum.
His passion for paleontology shone through in his enthusiasm for the hunt and his willingness to never give up.
His passion for paleontology shone through in his enthusiasm for the hunt and his willingness to never give up.
His passion for paleontology shone through in his enthusiasm for the hunt and his willingness to never give up.
You might say that some of the great paleontologists of our time have caught a little bit of ***'s spirit.
You might say that some of the great paleontologists of our time have caught a little bit of ***'s spirit.
Despite his lack of formal training, *** was a true paleontologist and a real naturalist, and science owes him so very much.
Despite his lack of formal training, *** was a true paleontologist and a real naturalist, and science owes him so very much.
Despite his lack of formal training, *** was a true paleontologist and a real naturalist, and science owes him so very much.
Thanks for walking the Marsh-*** Quarry with me today, and I'll see you again soon.
Thanks for walking the Marsh-*** Quarry with me today, and I'll see you again soon.