<p>Inside the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, a usual day for the team took a thrilling turn when they discovered a rare fossil: a vertebra from a plant-eating dinosaur that roamed the Earth over 67 million years ago. What made this find even more remarkable? It was located just beneath the museum’s parking lot!</p>

<p>The story began months earlier when the museum prepared for an ambitious project aimed at converting its utilities to geothermal energy. To assess the viability of this shift, they initiated drilling that would reach about 800 feet down into the earth. As Dr. James Hagadorn, the museum’s curator of geology, described it, the process was akin to taking a blood sample from a patient—drawing up precious layers of rocks and sediment.</p>

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    <img decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-220985" src="https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Denver-Museum-of-Nature-and-Science-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="696" height="464"  />
    <figcaption id="caption-attachment-220985" class="wp-caption-text">Dr. James Hagadorn (left) examines the drill core sample – credit, Denver Museum of Nature and Science</figcaption>
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<p>In a stroke of magnificent luck, the drill’s path perfectly intercepted a fossil, bringing it back to the surface along with the layers of sediment. Dr. Hagadorn described the odds of such a discovery as “infinitesimally small.” Not only was this the first fossil ever found at such a depth in Denver, but it also hails from the ancient Cretaceous Period, hinting it might belong to a dinosaur like the Thesculosaurus or the Edmontosaurus, creatures that once grazed on the lush greenery of what is now Denver.</p>

<p>Dr. Hagadorn expressed immense excitement over this unexpected find. “We suspected these dinosaurs might have existed in Denver, but to find direct evidence is incredible,” he shared during an interview, his eyes sparkling with wonder.</p>

<p>He even playfully mused about the thought of continuing the drilling to uncover more of this prehistoric giant. Unfortunately, the realities of museum operations mean that digging any deeper may not be feasible, especially since that area is a parking lot. “We desperately need the parking space!” he chuckled.</p>

<p>This delightful discovery adds an exciting chapter to Denver's natural history and reinforces the idea that sometimes, the most incredible surprises are hiding in plain sight. Who knows what else might still be beneath our feet, just waiting for the right moment to be revealed?</p>

<p><strong>WATCH the story below from AP…</strong></p>
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