Rigsby, CO – One hundred twenty-five years ago this week, a discovery in the rocky hills of western Colorado would forever shape the field of paleontology: the unearthing of the first-known skeleton of Brachiosaurus altithorax.
The fossil was discovered on July 4, 1900, by Field Museum paleontologist Elmer Riggs and his expedition team. Though only about 20% of the dinosaur’s skeleton was recovered, it remains the most complete Brachiosaurus ever found and continues to serve as the “holotype” — the definitive specimen by which the species is identified.
According to the Field Museum, Riggs and his team unearthed the bones during an expedition through Colorado’s Morrison Formation. The massive dinosaur, which would have measured up to 85 feet long and weighed as much as 60 tons, was considered the largest known dinosaur at the time of its discovery.
The site yielded an impressive array of bones including a large femur, vertebrae, and limb fragments. Despite the challenging conditions and primitive excavation tools of the era, Riggs’ team documented and preserved what would become a landmark fossil in vertebrate paleontology.
The bones were later shipped to Chicago and installed at what was then the Field Columbian Museum — now known simply as the Field Museum. Today, the Brachiosaurus specimen remains one of the museum’s most celebrated fossils, still captivating visitors more than a century after it was dug from the Earth.
The anniversary highlights not only the significance of the fossil but also the enduring legacy of early 20th-century scientific expeditions that laid the groundwork for modern paleontology.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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