Paleontologist Sue Hendrickson, who found the world’s most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex almost by accident, will make a stopover on Kaua’i today to talk about her discovery. Her visit is part of a whirlwind tour of appearances on Kaua’i,
Paleontologist Sue Hendrickson, who found the world’s most complete and
best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex almost by accident, will make a stopover on
Kaua’i today to talk about her discovery.
Her visit is part of a whirlwind
tour of appearances on Kaua’i, O’ahu, the Big Island and Maui from that began
Tuesday and will end Sept. 25. It is her first visit to
Hawai’i.
Hendrickson plans to meet with students at Kapa’a Elementary
School this morning and make a public appearance at McDonald’s at Wal-Mart in
Lihu’e from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Hendrickson’s rise to fame occurred on a hot,
sunny morning in August 1990 in Faith, S.D. A flat tire left Hendrickson and
her fossil-hunting crew stranded from the nearest town.
It was a moment of
serendipity.
While her crew made their way to town, Hendrickson headed with
her dog, Gypsie, to explore a 57-foot cliff she and her colleagues had spotted
earlier.
There, she noticed bone fragments at the base of the cliff, then
three large vertebrae protruding from the wall. It was the fossilized remains
of the largest, most complete T-rex ever found.
In 1997, the fossil was
purchased for $8.4 million by the Field Museum in Chicago, Ill., which received
financial support from McDonald’s Corp., Walt Disney Resort, the California
state university system and individuals.
The fossil was dubbed “A T. Rex
Named Sue.”
The 45-foot-long replica of “Sue” fills the floor of the Castle
Memorial Building at the Bishop Museum on O’ahu. It is accompanied by
interpretive exhibits, video footage, bones that can be touched and colorful
graphics.
Bishop Museum expects the replica to be its all-time favorite
exhibit.
During its grand opening on July 15-16, the exhibit attracted more
than 15,000 people. The exhibit will continue until Oct. 15.
During her
Kaua’i visit, Hendrickson will sign and distribute photographs of her with the
fossil.
Hendrickson is being brought to Hawai’i by McDonald’s, the key
sponsor of her traveling exhibit at Bishop Museum.
“Hawai’i doesn’t
normally get exhibits like this one, and to bring Sue Hendrickson for the
children and public to meet her really expands the educational experience,”
said Melanie Okazaki, assistant marketing manager for McDonald’s of
Hawai’i.
The state Department of Education, McDonald’s and Meadow Gold
Dairies will support the development of a video of Hendrickson interacting with
Hawaiian children.
The video is to be made available to teachers as a
learning tool.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681
(ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net