Painting of dinosaur from Jurassic Period

Legacy of Our Natural Resources

Several of Connecticut's premier natural history resources are its Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill and the state's abundant maple trees in Hebron, the source of high-quality maple sugar and syrup.

The Connecticut Valley has a long history of fossil track discoveries. Outstanding specimens, uncovered in nineteenth-century brownstone quarries, found their way into museums around the world. In 1966, when excavating a site for a state office building, several large dinosaur tracks were uncovered in sandstone. The trackway, preserved in place, is a Registered Natural Landmark. Later excavations found many more dinosaur tracks, resulting in one of the world's largest on-site displays. This remarkable site became Dinosaur State Park . A geodesic dome now covers 500 of the 2000 footprints and many exhibits. Over 80,000 visitors from around the world visit Dinosaur State Park, enjoying the panoramic, life-size dioramas, walking the nature trails, and visiting the arboretum, gardens, and picnic area.

First held in 1991, the Hebron Maple Festival highlights the many working sugar houses in that town. Festival activities include the crowning of a Maple Fest King and Queen, dog-sled demonstrations, dances, a crafts fair, and the sale of maple sugar products. The Festival celebrated its tenth anniversary at its March 11 and 12, 2000, event.

The project is documented with short written descriptions and several brochures from Dinosaur State Park.

Originally submitted by: John B. Larson, Representative (1st District).

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