Horrible tyrannosaurs of the Boston Museum of Science
July 11, 2012
My awesome employers Index Data flew us all out to Boston a few weeks ago, for six days of food, drink, work (yes, work!) and goofy tyrannosaurs.
There is really no excuse for this, is there?
SPECIAL BONUS: I am wearing my Xenoposeidon T-shirt.
Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week 
July 11, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Hello Dr. Taylor, you really do not like theropods?
July 11, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Does it at least get points for anterior nostril placement?
July 11, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Marcus asks:
Sure I like theropods! What else would you use as the outgroup for your sauropodomorph phylogeny?
July 11, 2012 at 8:32 pm
OK, here’s what’s up with “Elvis”.
He used to reside inside the MOS’ dinosaur hall for many, many years. Well into the mid-90’s he was in there (with a small card explaining, yes, we know Tyrannosaurus looked almost nothing like this), until the entire exhibit was gutted and updated about ten years ago. There is now a much more accurate (for the early 2000’s) Tyrannosaurus inside, but good old Elvis has been moved to the front of the building, where he mostly serves as something distinctive to meet near while waiting for a Duck Tour.
July 11, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Thanks for the history. Despite my snarky tone above, I actually really like exhibits like this; they’re much better than no big life-sized dinosaur. And they do represent part of our history.
July 11, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Looks to me like the Sinclair T-Rex from the 1964-5 World’s Fair. Show a little respect!
July 12, 2012 at 1:00 am
Now we just need mounts of Harryhousen‘s Tyrannosaurus rex from Caveman. Oh, yes,
July 12, 2012 at 2:37 am
He’d look less ridiculous if he was wearing a hat, and perhaps an ascot.
July 12, 2012 at 2:54 am
Isn’t this the Sinclar Tyrannosaurus rex from the Worlds Fair? Don’t like history?
July 12, 2012 at 5:14 pm
When I visited the Museum of Science as a kid, in the late 1960s, this sculpture was incomplete: all the museum had was the head. Visitors were asked to donate money so that the museum could build the rest of his body.
I suspect the entire piece was finished some time in the early 1970s, which would explain quite a bit.
July 12, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Yes!
Ascot.
Petition.
Kickstarter.
July 12, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Nathan, I have no idea what you’re saying. Please explain.
July 12, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Dude, you are slow today. Nathan is saying someone should use Kickstarter to get a petition going to outfit Ye Olde Tyrannosaur with an ascot.
I think he should also be holding an alcoholic beverage of some kind–maybe we could get the hands facing inward to facilitate that as well.
July 13, 2012 at 7:05 am
Ah, well — that’s why we have PhotoShop (or, in many of the more relaxed civilizations on the Outer Eastern Rim of the galaxy, GIMP).
July 13, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Eye patch.