Geology Field Trip – The Mesozoic
The Mesozoic Era was an amazing time on Earth, bracketed by two mass extinctions. The Mesozoic (Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods) saw great changes in lifeforms largely dominated by the dinosaurs. In this roadside geology field trip with the Draper Natural History Museum, we’ll look at local rocks that formed during this time, observe lots of fossils, and contemplate inland seas and deserts appearing and disappearing.
Join guides Larry Oliveria and George Miller for this exciting bit of “time travel” as we explore the Mesozoic madness of the Bighorn Basin near Cody! The four-hour field trip is designed for the student in all of us, starting and ending at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and transporting you through the Mesozoic era in the interim. Intended for an audience of age 18 and older, this programmatic offering is more than just a field trip—it’s an opportunity to gain intimate knowledge of your backyard!
Our first geology field trips in May and June covered the oldest and youngest rocks in the Bighorn Basin. This trip will highlight the amazing middle period, the Mesozoic Era. If you missed the first trip, don’t worry, it’s not a pre-requisite for this one, which will start and end with aspects of the first trip.
During this trip, we investigate the more than 200 million years when dinosaurs ruled the land and giant reptiles ruled the inland seas from Cody to Kansas and the Arctic Circle to Texas. Topics include local Mesozoic geology as it relates to the petroleum industry; the extinction event that opened a world of opportunity for mammals; the greatest landslide in Earth’s history; and the reign of the dinosaurs, for which the Mesozoic is probably best known.
Although there is limited hiking or walking on this tour, be prepared to get in and out of vehicles at six geologic stops. Water will be available, but we ask that you bring a water bottle to help cut down on waste. There is one scheduled bathroom break, but be prepared to spend the 4-hour period away from restrooms.
Limited to a maximum of 8 people. $85 for non-members; $65 for Center of the West members and for students. Register at tickets.centerofthewest.org.
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