Utah Field House of Natural History State Park - Vernal, Utah - Natural History Museum, State Park, Dinosaur Information

At the center of this state park is the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum. In 1945, construction was approved for a state-owned natural history museum in Vernal. Including, "A suitable building for the purpose of housing and displaying the fossil remains of ancient plant and animal life and other objects of Natural History.'' This building was the original Utah Field House of Natural History.

The new museum is located two blocks east of the old Field House. It is a 22,000-square foot structure meant to preserve and reveal the wealth of prehistory found within the Uinta Basin. In the museum you'll find geologic, paleontological, archaeological and biologic specimens displayed.

Outside the museum is the Dinosaur Garden. This prehistoric zoo is full of life-size replicas ranging in age from Pennsylvanian through Pleistocene. The garden has a twenty-foot Tyrannosaurus with six-inch, knife-like teeth, a horned Triceratops, six-ton Stegosaurus, winged Pteranodon and other full-size prehistoric animal replicas.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday, from 9am to 5pm. There is a charge with adult pricing, Utah seniors and children are half price and children under five are free. The Utah Field House of Natural History is located inside the city limits of Vernal. The address is 235 E Main Street in Vernal, Utah.

In 1942, Arthur G. Nord of the U.S. Forest Service wrote the following, "In some corner of most every museum of natural history there is found remnants of prehistoric life, much of which has come from (the) Uintah Basin. The guides in these institutions can thrill one with interesting information. Nothing could be more appropriate than to have a field museum with specimens of the natural and also artificial creations of the prehistoric life right in the heart of the area in which it is found.''

The Field House has certainly lived up to his vision. Exhibits include nearly three billion years of earth history as it is exposed in the nearby Uinta Mountains and Uinta Basin.

What you will find:

A small gift shop

Science reference library

A classroom

Geology hall - fossils are displayed including algae, dinosaurs, and highly advanced mammals

Anthropology hall - examples of ancient and recent Native American life in the Uintas

Natural history hall - examples of local animal life

Dinosaur Garden - seventeen full-size dinosaur replicas with a swamp area, rock area, small lake and a waterfall

Park Elevation is 5,300 feet

Located on 2 acres

There is a picnic area behind the museum

Summer evening lectures in the garden amphitheater

No camping available

June 2009 online review stated, "Our family was in the Flaming Gorge area for over a week and while my husband fished, my 7 year old son and I had Dinosaur adventures on the agenda. The Utah Field House Museum became one of the highlights of the trip. (According to my son, it was his favorite thing!) You can't miss this little gem, the building is halfway surrounded by near lifelike dinosaur statues and a Wooly Mammoth too. Driving around the Flaming Gorge area you can't help but notice the vast changes in topography, this little but modern museum provides insight into the geology of the area. We spent a few hours there and consider it a must see if you're visiting the area. And if you're hungry, walk up the road a block to the Dinosaur Brew Haus, the best hamburger I have ever tasted and the brisket sandwich was delicious too.''

Another online reviewer reported, "This Museum is phenomenal! It was an unscheduled attraction on our 8-day journey across Colorado and made it to the highlights of our trip. We just happened to drive through Vernal on our way home. The Field House of Natural History is very well maintained; the staff is very friendly and helpful. For families, I highly recommend participating in the Junior Paleo or Peewee Paleo program because it gives kids a purpose and helps explain the things that they see. We are planning to come back to Vernal to spend more time. The museum captured our interest.''