The Putnam Museum and Science Center announced plans to bring an adult Triceratops skeleton to the Quad-Cities community during its annual Dino Days event.
Cindy Diehl Yang is president and CEO of the organization. The skeleton excavation is in Lusk, Wyoming. A team of 10 from the museum and community will depart June 22 to join the dig.
The multi-year project began last summer when Kelly Lao, vice president of museum experiences, visited the excavation site. Marcus Eriksen, founder and executive director of Leap Lab, agreed to host the triceratops dig, assist with bone preparation and fabricate missing pieces.
“The Putnam is thrilled to partner with Leap Lab to bring a triceratops to the Quad-Cities,” Ms. Lao said. “This collaboration combines cutting-edge science with immersive education, inspiring curiosity and wonder in our community.”
The Triceratops fossils will make the Putnam Museum the only place in Iowa with a full dinosaur skeleton. It expects to install the skeleton in 2027 as a permanent addition to its collection of more than 250,000 items.
Throughout the project, the museum plans community involvement with updates, a naming contest, dino lab and appearances.
Partners and sponsors include the Quad City Cultural Trust, Augustana College and the Fryxell Geology Museum, VictoryXR, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Leap Lab: Ventura County Science Center, Eastern Wyoming Nature Center and Colin Parry. The Putnam will have opportunities for community members to contribute to the “Bring the Dinosaur Home to the Quad Cities” project. It will be through in-person and online donations.
“This project feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ms. Yang said. “As I’m relatively new to the Quad-Cities, it’s an honor to be a small part of bringing something this epic to this amazing community.”
