There is an astounding dinosaur fossil featured in the Chicago Field Museum: Tyrannosaurus rex named Sue.
Found in 1990 in South Dakota, this is the most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimen ever found.
The bones were 90% intact.
The skeleton of this T. rex is 67 million years old; and is 40 feet long (12.3m) and 13 feet tall (4m). The dinosaur weighed more than seven tons and was 28 years old at the time of death, the oldest known T.rex.
Below is a drawing of Sue. Courtesy the Chicago Field Museum,
Sue’s life (named after the Chicagoan paleontologist who found the first bones) has been thoroughly traced by scientists studying the bones and cellular structure.
By way of fossils found with Sue from the late Cretaceous period, it was learned that 67 million years ago South Dakota was warm, lush, and seasonally damp…not at all like it is today.
The dinosaur’s range covered Alberta, Canada, and the western U.S. states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and both Dakotas.
Along with forests and floodplains back then, huge rivers emptied into a sea that stretched from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
Conifer, palm, and fern fossils accompanied Sue, along with bones of freshwater rays, sharks, lizards, and amphibians.
More info: SUE the T. rex from the Chicago Field Museum
The first bone was found by Sue Hendrickson, while working with a paleontology team in South Dakota. They had just discovered a flat tire on their truck. While her colleagues went into town to repair the tire, she explored parts of the cliffs that her team had not checked, and found a small bone, then another bigger one.
As the grand importance of this skeleton literally surfaced, ownership became an issue. There were lawsuits, which eventually settled. It was determined that the man who owned the property, owned the skeleton. He chose to sell it at auction.
There was concern that the T. rex would be purchased by an individual and never shared. So the Field Museum, who wanted to share it with the world, teamed up with many other organizations and private citizens, secured funding, and purchased it for $8.36 million.
What a wonderful world it is that we have people devoting their lives to these studies; we have tools, education and organizations invested in learning more, and sharing.
Written by Jet Eliot.
Photos by Athena Alexander except where noted
Jet Eliot 
What a lovely name for a dinasaur! It makes me think that this one wasn’t a predator at all 🙂
While reading about Sue Hendrickson I thought… I would have done the same. But then I remembered that my colleagues probably wouldn’t, they would have dissappeared for a beer 😂
I’m glad you enjoyed learning about the T rex, Becky — thank you. 🙂
I did, thanks for posting 🙂
🙂
So fascinating. These eras of time have drawn me to them for decades, wishing I could instantly flash back to those times and actually see it live. Safely of course! Continental drift may account for the lush habitat back then, closer to the equator. Thanks for introducing us!
I find it fascinating, too, John, and I am sure glad you enjoyed the post. I had a lot of fun putting this post together. 🙂
This is a great post and I enjoyed reading it… Keep more coming!
Thanks very much, Bonnie — come back again sometime, there are always new posts. 🙂
I will definitely plan visiting soon.
The lawsuits went on for a long time. I’m glad Sue has a home where everyone can appreciate her, and scientists will have decent access.
Yes, they did. There was a lot at stake. It’s great they resolved it, and I agree with you Craig, great that we have all had the opportunity to share in the findings. 🙂
Amazingly, I know the people who own the ranch in S. Dakota where Sue was found! Long and incredible story. I have a dear friend who hails from Spearfish S. Dakota (foot of the Black Hills) ….a place where I have given workshops and have been asked to give another in September 2017. My friend the artist, Bonnie Halsey Dutton is married to the man who grew up on that ranch…..small world. S. Dakota, and the especially The Black Hills is a fascinating place. Once again, Jet…thank you so much. Wishing you a lovely Monday and week ahead. janet:)
That really is amazing, Janet! I LOVE that story, and what an incredible place for your friend Bonnie’s husband to have grown up. I would really like to explore SD and the Black Hills some day. I am happy to have linked up to some of your background, Janet; and delighted, as always, that you enjoyed today’s post. 🙂
David went to a one room schoolhouse on the Ranch with about eight other children until high school when he was moved into Spearfish with relatives. He’s brilliant and actually was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford…..and so his formative education must have been good. I always enjoy your posts. Wishing you a good International Women’s Day….janet. 🙂
Sounds like a good education, and an incredible place to grow up too. Happy International Women’s Day to you too, Janet. With many thanks~~
The other thing I forgot to mention is that David’s ancestors staked their land in the famous Land Rush….the initial family lived in dug outs until they built log cabins. One of the original log cabins is still on the ranch. ….Those early pioneers were incredible people…Have a lovely weekend. Janet. 🙂
I agree, Janet. Those pioneers were tough cookies. And how fortunate that David knows his own rich ancestral history. Thank you so much, Janet. And have fun this weekend!
Certainly if there is a boy named Sue, there can be a T-Rex named Sue too! She’s a beauty~
Your funny comment gave me a smile, Cindy. Cheers to you for a terrific week ahead. 🙂
I’ve been to that museum – a wonderful place. Of course, Sue hadn’t been discovered then. I’ll have to go back again!
It really is a wonderful museum, Jan. I am glad you have had the pleasure of being there, and yes, next time you’re in Chicago, check out Sue. Many thanks!
We should be grateful for those people who devote their lives to the research. 67 mil years ago, Wow!! Thank you for sharing the story, Jet.
Yes, so true, Amy. Human knowledge is so collective, such breakthroughs we can make happen. Thank you so much, my friend. 🙂
Great story Jet, what a miracle find. I grew up visiting the La Brea tar pits in Las Angeles. It was always a thrill.
I love the La Brea Tar Pits! Athena grew up in that area too, and her love for it introduced me to the tar pits, and that’s when I became enamored of dinosaurs. I wrote a post about La Brea tar pits, you might enjoy it. Unfort. I am having tech. prob. today or I would send you the link. I am happy you enjoyed today’s post, Sharon, I really enjoyed writing it. I hope you have a great week.
Thanks for your reply Jet. I’ll search for your La Brea Tar pit post.
I love it that you grew up near the La Brea Tar Pits, Sharon. Here’s the link, have fun.
https://jeteliot.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/la-brea-tar-pits/
Thanks Jet, I’ll check it out. Yes, I’m a California girl! I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, but my grandmother just lived a few miles from the LTP. 😍
😀
Try to use a bit of imagination and picture this T-Rex walking, alive! What a formidable animal! Aren’t we lucky to be on Earth at a different era? Great post as always my dear friend! Thanks! 🙂
Amazing animal, right HJ? I am really happy you enjoyed the post, and really happy you are back! I will go to Avian to see for myself. 🙂
This was fun to read! Dinosaurs are endlessly interesting (and so many students I’ve taught love to learn about them), so your introduction to Sue is great. What a discovery story, and it is so wonderful that people choose to spend their time working to make such discoveries – by chance or otherwise! Thanks, Jet!
I have only recently realized the joy that dinosaurs bring to me. I suppose being a girl I was not encouraged in this fascinating topic. But I am not extinct, fortunately, and really enjoyed researching this post, and hope to do more. Thanks so much, pc, for your wonderful comment. I hope your students this week are filled with enthusiasm for learning.
Oh, how I hope they are full of enthusiasm for learning too! The truth is, they’re rather more enthusiastic about the upcoming spring break (as am I!)
Thanks, Jet!
If your spring break is in SF this month, maybe we can hook up for coffee? Here’s my email: jeteliot@aol.com. Okay if it doesn’t work out too.
I love dinosaurs! Loved this post. We went to the Natural History Museum in London last year and I was blown away with the details.
I am delighted you enjoyed the post, my friend — thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Great post and so educational. Really fascinating, Jet! Always something to learn. Thanks for taking me on this trip to the museum. 🙂
Thanks so much, Iris, for being a joy on this trip to the museum. So glad you liked Sue! 🙂
When I visited the museum I had a good laugh because there was a McDonalds sign near the skeleton. It was one of Sue’s fund raiser 😀
I’m so glad you saw Sue, Gin, and yes, the fundraisers matter too. ha.
Amazing! love this post, Jet!
Thanks so much, Resa — I’m glad you enjoyed the T rex.
Thanks for this great post. The legal suites by the Sioux over Sue were lost — no surprise. I must go see the Titanosuar at the AMNH in NYC http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/the-titanosaur .
Oh how very exciting to have the new Titanosuar. Thanks for the link, Sherry. It looks like a very exciting exhibit. That was one huge animal!
Isn’t it amazing how the bones were found? Many discoveries on the way 🙂
Yes, it is amazing how the bones were found. Thank you Inese, I appreciate your visit.
That timescale is beyond belief, Jet! Somehow dinosaurs are part of a fantasy world to me. I can hardly credit that our planet has been spinning for all that time. We fret about climate change but when you look at the journey it’s already been on? It’s inconceivable to me where it will end. Perhaps just as well! 😦
Yes, I agree, Jo — it is difficult to imagine our earth going back so very far. I hope it keeps going for a long, long time. Thanks for your visit today.
What an astonishing find. And price / value put on it. Noted re gender undetermined – so it could have been a T. rex ‘Boy named Sue’…
An oh so clever deduction, my friend. Thanks for making me chuckle. 🙂
Such fascinating creatures! I always visit museums to check them out. I like to imagine how the world used to look like with them around. Beauties! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I love doing that too, Lucy — imagining the world with dinosaurs in it. Thanks so much.
What a story! Very interesting Jet.
I’m really glad you enjoyed the T rex post, Bertie — I always appreciate your kind words.
Nice photos and very informative essay. 🙂
Thanks so very much, Frank — I appreciate it.
What a grand sight to see! I have seen a big whale fossil, but nothing like those. I wanna see those ones myself.
It really is a grand sight to see, Rommel. I hope you get a chance to see Sue, it sure gets one’s imagination going. Thank you for your visits~~
What a great story, Jet! I am happy that Lucy has been shared so many people can meet her. It’s fascinating to imagine the environments she was running in when she lived.
I am happy you enjoyed the T rex adventures, Tiny. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Very comprehensive and enjoyable post, Jet. The photos and researched information made me feel as if I’d been there. ;~)
We are so fortunate to have scientists who have figured out the dinosaur worlds so long ago, so that we can just trigger our imagination and join them. Thank you Nan!
The story of Sue is a fascinating story. Thank you for the post. A film called :”Dinosaur 13″ is also worth watching. It’s all about Sue from beginning to end.
Hi Iris, thanks so much for the film suggestion, I will watch it! It is a fascinating find, I can imagine the film is interesting too.