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Show PART THREE OF A TEN PART EDITION A glimpse of the prehistoric Leaping backward in time thousands of years, the 14 life-size replicas of dinosaurs at Dinosaur Gardens, gives one a glimpse of what it was like. The fiberglass replicas, acclaimed as the largest and finest collection of prehistoric specimens in the world took Utah sculptor, Elbert Porter, more than 14 years to create. They are valued at more than a million dollars. The Dinosaur Gardens is located east of the Dinosaur Museum, 230 East Main in Vernal. Access is gained through the museum. Although Vernal was famed as Dinosaurland long before Dinosaur Gardens, the creation of the gardens is a community and state display clinching clin-ching that title for the area. The garden is a final resting place for ideas that originated in the area. Twenty years ago, Porter brought the Indian statue that now stands in front of the Ute Motel to Vernal. After installing the sign, he visited Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen for the first time. While looking look-ing over the dinosaur exhibits, Porter got the idea of making life-sized dinosaurs for display. After traveling extensively, gathering gather-ing information and using his aircraft y- . ' -.. ' i .,-. : ' ; f - ' v V . . 1 . - .-"'"v . v i, 'vV:t';:)v ;...;:o.'i'-.- ..-'.J V' ;tj --. jvs.;, -,:;. -v-i- - . ,. . '. - ' ... TWO YOUNG tourists excitedly point across Dinosaur Gardens to one of the dinosaur replicas. Fourteen life-size reptiles rep-tiles are located in the gardens. pattern making skills, Porter started to model his first dinosaurs. He started with small scale dinosaurs and after perfecting these and subjecting them to authorities, he went into full scale models using a new fiberglass material that was just coming com-ing into use. Porter brought several of his first models to Vernal in 1959 to gain support sup-port for a " Dinosaur World" display. This failed, but Porter continued to make fiberglass dinosaurs. Finally when his collection grew, he took it to near Yellowstone National Park and displayed it for several years. He then brought the collection-back collection-back to Orderville, Utah. Plans for Dinosaur Gardens came into being when it was learned that Porter was willing to sell the collection. Due to the efforts of Michael Perry, director of the Dinosaur Natural History Museum and Representative Glade M. Sowards, the collection was purchased in 1977 by the Utah State Department of Parks and Recreation special legislative funding for $130,000. The purchase included relocation and refurbishing of the specimens. The giant models are constructed of fiberglass and polyester resins with steel reinforcements. They are extremely ex-tremely durable and completely weather resistant. Only the wooly mammoth nevds new hair and repainted every few years. To begin the construction of the garden, in the summer of 1977 the University of Utah Malin concrete dinosaur trio, obtained by Captain Sam Dulany Hunter, was moved from the west side of the museum to the east front of the grounds. The chain link ' r. .IS ' A: ... s DINOSAUR REPLICA lurks in the tall grass in Dmosa.-Gardens. fence was constructed around the garden by the Elks Club. The Vernal Jaycees w ere in charge of building the pond in the center of the garden area. Uintah County donated the asphalt for the walks and surface areas. Museum official reports that total hours donated for the construction of the garden is uncountable. The dedication that climaxed the community efforts in raising $100,000 in cash and services for the i;: the dinosaurs was Sept. 23. Dunng the dedication Ponei was glad to se his dmosami come back to Vernal. "The new display in Veu. made my project worJmte e hope many people iU come see them " |