Collections
Geier Collections & Research Center, Cincinnati Museum Center, 760W 5th St.Cincinnati, OH 45203.
The Vertebrate Paleontology Department houses over 20,000 cataloged lots of material from a broad range of stratigraphic horizons and geographic areas, with special emphasis on Paleozoic and Quaternary fossils from the Ohio Valley tri-state region (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana). Significant holdings of Jurassic dinosaurs, Mesozoic marine reptiles, and Cretaceous/Paleocene microvertebrates are also maintained. Meeting attendees may visit the collection by advance appointment only. Glenn Storrs, Curator, Cameron Schwalbach, Collection Manager, 1 mile from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Karl E. Limper Geology Museum, Miami University, Schideler Hall 126, Oxford, OH 45056.
Primarily comprising invertebrate fossils from southwestern Ohio, the museum maintains a small collection of vertebrate fossils. Kendall Hauer, Director, 39 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Joseph Moore Museum, Earlham College, 801 National Rd. W., Richmond, IN 47374.
The Giant Beaver (Casteroides ohioensis) skeleton on display is the single most complete specimen of its species ever found. In addition, the collection also contains specimens from 25 states and 15 countries. These include a mastodon (Mastodon americanus) composite skeleton and a bison skull that is widely considered the best ever found in Indiana. Heather Lerner, Director, Ann-Eliza Lewis, Collection Manager, 72 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Orton Geological Museum, The Ohio State University, 155 S. Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210.
While holding primarily invertebrate collections, some vertebrate fossils are maintained and the museum houses type and figured specimens from many of the original paleontological investigations of the geology and paleontology of Ohio. These include specimens from the works of James Hall, Grace Anne Stewart, and many others. Dale Gnidovec, Collection Manager. 111 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Ohio History Center, Ohio History Connection. 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus. OH 43211.
The collection contains representatives of natural history objects from throughout the state – including animals (fossil and recent), plants and geological specimens that are part of Ohio’s natural heritage. Largely synoptic in scope, a collection of Pleistocene mammals with greater depth and research value is also held. David Dyer, Curator. 112 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Indiana State Museum, 659 West Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.
ISMHS is a top authority on Ice Age paleontology in Indiana and holds mammoths and mastodons from more localities than any other museum in the Midwest. Many of the specimens were recovered during the museum’s field expeditions. Peggy Fisherkeller, Curator, 112 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208.
The museum houses: two type specimens of dinosaurs, Dracorex hogwartsia – a pachycephalosaurid from South Dakota and Prenoceratop pieganensis – a small ceratopsian from Montana; a Gorgosaurus sp. with multiple injuries including fractures in the fibula, infections in the dentaries and extreme exostosis in the scapula/coracoid; Edmontosaurus annectens fossils from the Ruth Mason Quarry, South Dakota of around 1,500 fossils dug up by TCM staff and volunteers as well as families and teachers; Bucky – a sub-adult that was the first Tyrannosaurus rex specimen with a confirmed furcula and gastralia in articulation; an infant Hypacrosaurus; a cast of Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex; casts of the famous “Baby Louie” (Beibeilong) specimen from China featuring a series of eggs with a small embryo preserved. TCMI also holds the Lanzendorf Paleo Art collection. Laura Rooney, Curator. 116 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Indiana University Paleontology Collection, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, 1001 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405.
The collection contains many fossils from the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian of the Midwest and other regions, and material from the early Wasatchian of the Bighorn Basin collected by Randy Patrick and colleagues. Quaternary mammals from Indiana have been part of the collection since the time of D.D. Owen and O.P. Hay and include material from Harrodsburg Fissure, Monroe County. David Polly, Curator. Jessica Miler-Camp, Collection Manager. 127 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Witmer Lab, Ohio University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences Building, Rm. 123, Athens, OH 45701.
The lab maintains a fine collection of high-resolution cast vertebrate fossil skulls, primarily of dinosaurs. Larry Witmer, Director. 157 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106.
The Earth Sciences Department houses the Vertebrate Paleontology collections at CMNH. This collection emphasizes locally collected fossils, primarily Devonian fish and Pleistocene mammals. Highlights of these local collections include many specimens of Ohio’s state fossil fish, Dunkleosteus, and extraordinarily preserved cartilaginous fish. The collections also house multiple holotype specimens, including the rare Jurassic Sauropod Haplocanthosaurus delfsi, the controversial skull of Nanotyrannus lancensis, and the transitional early tetrapod Greererpeton burkemorani. Due to ongoing renovations, all collections in the Earth Sciences Department are currently closed to outside researchers, except for the return of previously loaned specimens to the museum collections. Dr. Caitlin Colleary, Associate Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Sarah Hennessey, Collections Manager of Earth Sciences, Jeb Bugos, Collections Assistant of Earth Sciences. 254 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
The Section of Vertebrate Paleontology collection currently has more than 120,000 specimens that range in age from the Silurian to the Pleistocene with a worldwide geographical distribution. The collection boasts specimens that collectively represent all major vertebrate groups, including 472 holotype specimens, such as those of the iconic dinosaurs Diplodocus carnegii, Apatosaurus louisae, and Tyrannosaurus rex. Matt Lamanna, Curator, Amy Henrici, Collection Manager. 293 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605.
The Fossil Fish Collection is one of the two largest in North America. It contains over 30,000 specimens from localities all over the world ranging in age from Ordovician to Pleistocene. The Fossil Amphibian and Reptile Collection includes over 7,000 catalogued specimens. Strengths include Early Permian fossils from Oklahoma and Texas, and growing collections of dinosaurs, and marine reptiles. A small but significant synapsid collection is included for historical reasons. The Fossil Bird Collection is scientifically important but relatively small. Fossil Mammals is the largest of the collections with broad stratigraphic and geographic scope. Lance Grande, Curator, Olivier Rieppel, Curator, Ken Angielczyk, Curator, Bill Simpson, Collections Manager. 296 miles from the Duke Energy Convention Center.