Fossils of the Tyrannosaurus Rex and his relatives have been discovered in several places around New Mexico. The rich fossil record there spans about 500 million years, with some very unique fossil vertebrates that include fishes, amphibians, reptiles (turtles, dinosaurs, and birds) and mammals.
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS) is a large museum, located near the Old Town of Albuquerque. The museum opened in 1986. Its permanent exhibits focus on a journey through time from the birth of the Universe approximately 13.6 billion years ago to the Ice Age about 10,000 years ago. There are also exhibits on astronomy and space exploration.
Two life-size bronze dinosaur statues welcome visitors at the entry courtyard, offering a glimpse of what’s inside the museum. The sculptures were created by artist David A. Thomas and installed in the mid-1980s. One is a Pentaceratops named “Spike,” and the other one an Albertosaurus named “Alberta.”