A Triceratops is Heading To the Quad Cities!
We are trilled to announce our plans to bring an adult Triceratops skeleton to the Putman for the greater Quad City community.
The skeleton is currently being excavated at a dig site in remote Lusk, Wyoming. The Dino Expedition from summer 2025, unearthed 32 Triceratops bones and one bonus T. Rex tooth. The bones are currently being prepared at the Fryxell Geology Museum at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.
The multi-year project was made official last summer when our Vice President of Museum Experiences, Kelly Lao, visited the excavation site. During that time, Dr. Marcus Eriksen, Founder and Executive Director at Leap Lab, agreed to host the dig expedition, assist with bone prep and fabricate any missing pieces that are not found when unearthing the skeleton.
“The Putnam is thrilled to partner with Leap Lab to bring a triceratops to the Quad Cities.” Says Kelly Lao, Vice President of Museum experience. “This collaboration combines cutting-edge science with immersive education, inspiring curiosity and wonder in our community. It’s not just about showcasing a dinosaur; it’s about sparking the imagination of future explorers, scientists, and lifelong learners.”
The Triceratops fossils will make the Putnam Museum and Science Center the only place in Iowa where visitors can see a full dinosaur skeleton. We expect the skeleton to be installed in 2027 and be a permanent addition to the museum’s over 250,000 item collection. Throughout the multi-year project the museum plans to keep the Quad City community involved with project updates, including a community naming contest, a dino lab allowing guests to see the prepping of the bones, multiple appearances around town and much more!
This long-term and monumental project is supported by multiple partners and sponsors, including the Quad City Cultural Trust, Augustana College and the Fryxell Geology Museum, VictoryXR, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Leap Lab: Ventura County Science Center, Eastern Wyoming Nature Center and local Jurassic Park aficionado Colin Parry. We will also have opportunities for community members to contribute to the “Bring the Dinosaur Home to the Quad Cities” project through in person donations at the museum and online.
“This project feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the museum,” said Putnam President & CEO Cindy Diehl Yang. “As I’m relatively new to the Quad Cities it’s an honor to be a small part of bringing something this epic to this amazing community. With a project this big we can’t do it alone, thank you to our partners, especially Quad City Cultural Trust and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. This will be the community’s dinosaur, and we will need everyone’s support to bring the dino home!”
