Royal Tyrell celebrating 40th anniversary with big discoveries

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 17, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Over the past 40 years the Royal Tyrrell Museum has been at the forefront of palaeontological exploration, and beginning Saturday visitors will be able to travel back in time to the museum’s opening era with a silent dino-disco dance to celebrate the anniversary.

Located in Alberta’s Badlands, the Royal Tyrrell Museum houses one of the most extensive collections of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs and other vertebrates in the world.

The museum celebrated its 40th anniversary Sept. 25 with a community event and celebration and continues pop-up exhibits at 10 locations across the province, including at the Medicine Hat Public Library.

“Since opening our doors, millions of Albertans have been a part of our journey, helping make this museum a living, thriving place of discovery, and reminding us that science belongs to everyone,” said Lisa Making, executive director. “This year we look back on 40 years with pride, but we are also looking forward with excitement. There are still fossils to be discovered, mysteries to be solved and young minds to be inspired.”

This year’s field research uncovered a total of 873 specimens collected through regular fieldwork, including 348 of various plants and animals collected from Dinosaur Provincial Park, while 68 specimens were discovered in partnership with industry and developers.

New discoveries include the fossilized skeleton of a plesiosaur that navigated Alberta’s ancient oceans 110 million years ago, found near Peace River, and a pair of mosasaurs located near Lethbridge that swam the waters 75 million years ago.

Additionally, near Diamond Valley, palaeontologists uncovered the shell of a turtle that roamed the land 65 million years ago.

“The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a world-class museum for palaeontology and I extend my congratulations on 40 years of outstanding work,” said Tanya Fir, minister of arts, culture and status of women. “The success of this year’s research is a testament to the museum’s enduring legacy, further highlighting Alberta’s vital contributions to the world’s understanding of ancient life.”

Back in May, a brand new exhibit called “Breakthroughs” was unveiled, which is a collection of five of Alberta’s most groundbreaking specimens, the exhibit lets visitors experience the best preserved fossils, first-of-their-kind discoveries and singular specimens in one dedicated showcase.

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