Major Dinosaur Fossil Coming to the Creation Museum

I have some very big (I mean BIG) news to share with you! You will not believe what the Lord has dropped into our laps! And it fulfills a dream I’ve had for years.

You see, for decades I’ve walked through many leading secular museums, like the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum in Washington—and the impressive one in London. I’ll have to admit to you: sometimes I’ve “coveted” their superb dinosaur skeletons.

Now, even though we do have an excellent fossil collection inside our Creation Museum, including some rare fossils and even some dinosaur eggs and bones, I have often prayed that we could have a world-class dinosaur fossil to put on display for our visitors.

I also thought: why should it only be the evolutionist world that has access to such excellent fossils? Why not the Creation Museum, a place that honors God and His Word—and tells the truth about dinosaurs and their creation?

But world-class dinosaur fossils, especially large ones, can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to purchase.

Well, “out of the blue,” we received a call from representatives of a foundation who wanted to visit the Creation Museum. During their visit, they were so thrilled to see the quality of the museum and its biblical messages. They had an idea.

The foundation explained to us that through a series of events, it had obtained the fossil remains of a large allosaur dinosaur. We were told that their foundation wanted to donate this superb specimen to the Creation Museum so it could be used to help visitors know the truth of God’s Word and the gospel.

I must admit—we were all stunned. And then the news only got better.

We learned many more amazing details about this world-class Allosaurus fossil, and its history. And it is a history that certainly did not go back more than 65 million years!

Allosaurs were large theropod dinosaurs. The one we have received probably stood 10-feet high and 30-feet long! Thousands of allosaur bones have been found in what is known as the Morrison Formation of North America. In fact, allosaur bones are the most prevalent type of fossils represented in the famous Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry of Utah, where the dinosaur bones are found scattered and mixed—in fact, a confirmation of Noah’s Flood!

While Allosaurus fossils are not uncommon, the specimen that was recently given to the Creation Museum, nicknamed “Ebenezer,” stands out for several major reasons.

“Ebenezer” was found articulated—that is, the bones were arranged in their correct anatomical positions relative to each other, rather than in a scattered assortment of bones (as dinosaur fossils are often found).

The ribs and legs were exposed. They had apparently eroded before the fossil was discovered, but much of the spine and 97% of the skull were found. “Ebenezer” was a full-grown adult. As you view the photos on this page of its skull, you can see how this creature is sometimes confused with a T.rex.

The skull is significantly larger than the famous “Big Al” dinosaur fossil of the Museum of the Rockies in Montana. In fact, the skull is among the four best-preserved Allosaurus skulls in the world!

It has 53 teeth still in place. The skull was found largely intact, mostly encased in hard rock. It took thousands of hours to slowly and carefully free this impressive skull from its rocky matrix. Now the skull of “Ebenezer” will be ready to display soon!

A world-class dinosaur fossil will be exhibited at the Creation Museum, along with great teaching about dinosaurs that will honor God’s Word! Our God is so good!

I believe the Lord entrusted this incredible fossil to us because we have been faithful in standing boldly and unashamedly on the Bible’s authority, starting in Genesis. This is part of our mission to deliver the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our very talented design team at the museum has taken on the enormous task of designing an exhibit to feature this phenomenal skull—and the rest of the bones that were found with it.

This will be a startling addition to the Creation Museum. With your prayers and financial support, we hope this exhibit will be open by the summer of 2014.

I can’t tell you how excited I am about this wonderful opportunity. We’ve often talked and prayed about how we could ever obtain a remarkable dinosaur fossil—and the Lord has answered our prayer!

Imagine the Creation Museum advertising this exceptional dinosaur fossil next year! The evolutionists will hate the fact that the museum has such a great specimen!

Please thank the Lord with us for entrusting such a phenomenal dinosaur fossil to the Creation Museum!

It is expected that about half the cost of building the allosaur exhibit will be funded through the museum’s “Membership with a Mission” program. The other half ($250,000) will need to be raised through donations.

One of our supporting families has offered a matching gift challenge—one which will get this allosaur exhibit built and also help fund AiG’s Ark Encounter project! A few weeks ago, this family gave AiG a $500,000 gift to help build the evangelistic Ark Encounter, with a full-size Noah’s Ark.

The same family then heard of the opportunity to display a world-class dinosaur fossil inside the Creation Museum, and decided to do something else on top of its $500,000 gift: they have made a special matching gift offer. For every dollar donated to the allosaur exhibit and the general AiG ministry through November 15, this family will donate a dollar to the Ark Encounter—up to another $500,000. That would be $1 million!

Your donation today will essentially be doubled. To have your gift matched and also benefit the Ark, please go to our online donation page, enter your gift amount for “Core ministry,” and then type the words “Allosaur Match/Ark Encounter” in the comments area at the bottom.

Thank you for partnering with us in this exciting new opportunity to point people to the authority of God’s Word and its gospel message through the incredible allosaur and the future Ark.