Dinosaur Park is a unique public attraction near the cities of Laurel and Muirkirk, overseen by the Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation. The park preserves an important paleontological site that has uncovered significant early Cretaceous fossils, including significant Astrodon teeth findings. It sits on the site of former iron ore mines and furnaces, which were used to produce iron and steel during the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1858, workers at the mine site discovered what turned out to be confirmed as dinosaur fossils by Maryland state geologist Phillip Thomas Tyson. Additional dinosaur, turtle, and crocodile fossils were uncovered by John Bell Hatcher and several scientists connected to the Smithsonian Institution. Today, the site is open to the public and lets visitors embark on their own paleontological exploration with the help of onsite staff and volunteers.
13100 Mid Atlantic Blvd, Laurel, MD 20708, Phone: 301-627-1286
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