Dinosaur Museum celebrates 30 years

by David Boyle
News Director
The Dinosaur Museum in Blanding is proudly celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
To commemorate three decades in the community, the museum is offering half-price admission during the Blanding Independence Day celebration.
In an interview with Redrock Radio co-founder and museum director Sylvia Czerkas shared the museum’s history dates back to when she and her late husband Stephen Czerkas were working at the LA County Museum in Los Angeles, California.
While the couple went on paleontological digs throughout the west including in Montana and Wyoming they were captured by the beauty in San Juan County, Utah. After finding a listing for a ranch with enough room for a house, workshop and additional acreage the couple moved to San Juan County.
With a background steeped in museum commissions of dinosaur sculptures and as a curator for traveling dinosaur exhibits, the Czerkas family had held on to a dream of starting their own museum.
Their dream became a reality with significant help from co-founder Dale Slade. Additional generous support came from Donna Slade, Pete and Charlotte Black and William and Margie Hurst.
With plenty of leg work the non-profit was able to secure a building and open its first gallery in 1995 with steady expansion since with additional galleries added over the years.
The Dinosaur Museum is unique in its blend of art and science. With traditional exhibits on bones and fossils alsonside imaginative displays including the CineSaurus exhibit which chronicles the history of dinosaurs in movies with various art pieces including models and movie posters from early silent films to blockbusters like Jurassic Park.
The museum also features exhibits on feathered dinosaurs, showcasing discoveries of fossils featuring feathered dinosaurs which helped change the understanding between dinosaurs and birds.
The museum prides itself on its strong connection to the community and its global appeal. Sylvia notes that "every child that's grown up in San Juan County has been to the museum as part of their field trip," underscoring its role in local education
Beyond local residents, the museum welcomes visitors from "every country you can imagine," as evidenced by its guest book registry.
Looking to the future, the museum continues to innovate. They recently partnered with the San Juan County Clean Energy Foundation of the White Mesa Mill to install solar panels, which have significantly reduced utility costs. Furthermore, the museum plans to release a book on its history and dinosaur sculptures, expected to be available as soon as late July or August, offering a comprehensive look at their work.
The half-price admission on Independence Day invites everyone, from long-time supporters to new visitors, to experience this unique institution.