National Fossil Day is an annual celebration held by the National Parks Service during Science Week to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. It was held yesterday, Oct. 13, celebrating its 10th year. Next week, CVW will have a deep-dive into the local fossils in Southern California and, specifically, in the Crescenta Valley. But until then, we wanted to share a couple of looks at one of the most famous dinosaurs ever – the Tyrannosaurus rex.

The T. rex is what many think of when the word “fossil” comes to mind, and for good reason. The T. rex is arguably the most perfect predator to ever live on land and has captured the imagination of the world, despite there being less than 15 individual partial skeletons ever discovered. The fossil pictured (top) was the first complete T. rex skull ever collected and is now on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Paleontologist Barnum Brown discovered it in 1908 and it took the world by storm, making the T. rex perhaps the most famous dinosaur and, subsequently, this is the most famous fossil.

Closer to home, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles has a stunning exhibit on the growth cycle of the T. rex with both a juvenile and adolescent T. rex skeleton alongside a full adult (pictured above). 

By Charly SHELTON