Why Does the U.S. Army Own So Many Fossils?

> Wankel’s T. Rex, also known as the “Nation’s T. Rex,” was on display in its home state of Montana at the Museum of the Rockies until 2014, when it was shipped in 16 crates in a custom FedEx truck to its new home at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History—after the museum had arranged a 50-year-loan with the Corps. In Montana, Wankel’s T. Rex was displayed in a death pose, its bones arranged to show visitors what actually emerged from the dirt. But at the Smithsonian, the tyrannosaurus will stand up for the first time, craned over a fossilized triceratops.

The new fossil hall at the Smithsonian is open now, so if you visit DC you can come see this T-rex (along with a ton of other fossils).

Semi-related: I recently watched the documentary Dinosaur 13 [1] about the much larger T. Rex found in South Dakota and the legal battles surrounding it. Very good (but very much one-sided). The movie has a scene that describes how land ownership in the western US creates a very confusing situation in regards to ownership of fossils.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur_13

That’s not a nice way to talk about the old generals. :D

they're called Generals