Show A ii L sv r r A MONUMENT TO VERNAL Is represented In this picture pic pic- ture v The skeleton dinosaur at ot the left known as Dippy is recognized all over the country The entrance entrance en en- trance to the Utah Field House Hose of Natural History built by determined local leaders and the friendly The idea of constructing a museum In Vernal was proposed proposed pro pro- posed and urged by Lions Club members at a meeting September September Sep Sep- 9 1934 Pursuing the idea Lions members again proposed a Field House Museum Museum Mus Mus- eum for Vernal at a meeting September 6 1943 A VISITING dignitary H. H J. J Plumhof commissioner of the State Department of Publicity and Industrial Development stressed the importance of a museum which would be of great worth to Vernal and to Utah Because of its significance as a powerful tourist attraction attraction tion the aspects of a museum were lauded by Mr Plumhof who said he would support legislative pressure to finance the the structure He also stated at the 1943 meeting that taxpayers taxpayers taxpayers tax tax- payers would be willing to contribute contribute contribute con con- tribute taxes to pay for the structure because of its im Im- MANY REASONS were outlined out lined for a museum in Ver Ver- nal It n was noted that the tah Basin contains the the most complete geological record of any region of the world Its most important mineral phosphate phosphate phosphate phate is concentrated here Inthe in inthe inthe the richest beds in the world Mammals uncovered in the basin in recent years were lauded as more interesting than dinosaurs OFFICIALS stated that the Carnegie Museum would help secure specimens for the proposed pro posed museum Dr Dorett of Carnegie Museum had collected collect collect- ed of mammals mammals mam mam- mals in the region many not found anywhere else on the continent Mr Plumhof said a field fieldhouse fieldhouse fieldhouse house here would be headquarters for scientists and students in study of geology ADDING TO Mr Plumhof's s 's plea J. J H. H McGibbney assistant assistant assist assist- ant regional forester of the area stated that it itis is deplorable deplorable able that many valuable dinosaur dino bones and relics have been lost He said they should by all means be preserved In June of 1944 the proposed propos propos- ed museum became less of a adream adream adream dream and more of reality as preliminary action began on the fieldhouse museum as Uintah Uintah Uin- Uin tah tab County's primary postwar aim lIim SITUATED IN the heart of ofa ofa a l dinosaur graveyard Vernal would be an ideal location for fora a museum of national It would serve a triple purpose purpose to to house displays an outstanding tourist attraction as an information bureau andas and andas as liS a national summer school for research study The proposed museum museum had at this time already received endorsement of state and national national national na na- leaders I ADDED TO previously mentioned men mentioned men men- n. n I attractions of the basin I factors in favor of the museum museum mus eum are the exposed formations formations forma forma- in the Uinta Mountains I covering thousands thousands' of years near section cross of couple Ernest and Billie who have greeted greet greet- ed tourists and friends over the past 20 years are trademarks of the Vernal area known as Dinosaur Land Land Early Plans for Utah Field House Started by Vernal Lions Club in 1934 the earth Dinosaur National Monument Monument ment 12 miles from Vernal at atthe atthe atthe the time and at present was one of the most remarkable deposits ever found according to a national curator of vertebrate vertebrate vert vert- SOME OF the most interesting interesting interest interest- ing items found in the basin were listed by Dr J. J LeRoy Kay of the Dinosaur Monument Monument ment as the oldest fossilized ants the oldest toothed sabre-toothed mammals the oldest fossil rabbits rabbits rab rab- bits and evidence of prehistoric torte man A tentative site for the proposed pro posed museum was designated as east of the courthouse on busy Highway 40 THE VERNAL project would emphasize like life-like reconstructions reconstructions reconstructions re re- constructions of pre-historic pre life would provide information information tion on Indian tribes ancient and modern and would promote promote pro pro- mote modern-day modern Indian hand hand- Geology and paleontology classes were scheduled for July 23 1945 to be held held for for two weeks IN DECEMBER R of 1945 Governor Herbert B. B Maw approved approved approved ap ap- proved for the financing financing ing of the field house museum in Vernal He told his committee committee committee com com- to proceed with designs so construction could start as soon as labor and material were available Governor Maw said the money would be made available August 1 1946 The building site of the museum museum mus mus- eum was dedicated August 2 1946 Aaron Tracy dedicated the site IN DECEMBER of 1946 was allocated and it was announced that bids for This event marked the culmination culmination cul cul- of a year five-year effort by Vernal Lions Club and construction would be let soon The dedication of the Utah Fieldhouse of Natural History in Vernal was held October 16 1947 attended by Governor Maw and other state and civic leaders as well as most of the residents of the city A SEALED copper box was placed in the masonry of the cornerstone holding a scroll on which were recorded events of the day and from the five I geological eras represented represented re reo presented by the exposed formations in the Uinta Moun Moun- Also placed in the box was a register signed register signed by all persons attending the dedica dedica- tion other groups to secure the pro pro- G. G E. E was wasI named director of the I tion lion in 1946 and made the first contributions of 14 large paintings paintings paint paint- ings depicting prehistoric and present animal life of the basin and local scenic attractions At the time of the dedication dedication dedica dedica- tion construction was wall progressing progressing pro pro- gressing by contractor C. C H. H Dorland Construction Company Company Com Com- pany of Salt Lake City who was awarded the bid after bids were called for three times BECAUSE OF the high costs of construction an observatory observatory tory tower and one room of the museums museum's original plans were omitted from the final blue prints With the completion of the museum the Vernal field fieldhouse fieldhouse fieldhouse house has become one of the most heavily visited institutions lions in the state attracting thousands of of tourists each year |