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Posted by Val on October 23rd, 2009 at 1:04 pm | Permalink | 1 Comment » |
What happens when a Jackalope meets a dinosaur for the first time?
Click the thumbnails below to view the original photos!
Site: The Sinclair Oil Dinosaur
Location: 4317 Butler Hill Rd, St Louis, MO 63128
Cost: Free (gas will cost you)
Hours: Always visible.
Date:June 7, 2009
When Flopsy met Sinclair… | 1 Comment » |
Posted by Val on October 23rd, 2009 at 11:13 am | Permalink | 3 Comments » |
Finding a Sinclair Station Dinosaur in Missouri was harder than I’d imagined…
One would be closed.
One would be open, but not have a dino in site.
Another would be turned into a used car lot.
But finally, just at the end of my Missouri road trip, we’d try just one last time in St. Louis, and be successful!
Site: The Sinclair Oil Dinosaur
Location: 4317 Butler Hill Rd, St Louis, MO 63128
Cost: Free (gas will cost you)
Hours: Always visible.
Date:June 7, 2009
The Sinclair Oil Dinosaur – St. Louis, Missouri | 3 Comments » |
Posted by Val on October 23rd, 2009 at 9:49 am | Permalink | No Comments » |
If you had a choice of stopping for gas at a gas station with a big green dinosaur or one without a big green dinosaur, which would you choose?
Gas stations are a popular location for roadside attractions to hang out at. I’ve seen many a pink elephant next to the pumps. With such competition over gas nowadays, often with a station on all four corners off major highways, it’s no wonder these outposts would do anything to get you to choose them over the guy across the street.
Enter Sinclair.
Sinclair Oil was formed in 1916 by Harry Sinclair and soon became one of the seventh largest oil companies in America. The company is recognized by the Terror-Free Oil Initiative as they do not buy oil from terrorism-sponsoring states, such as those in the Middle East.
In 1930 Sinclair adopted the now famous Apatosaurus (brontosaurus) “Dino” that still graces its logo. Not only does the Sinclair dinosaur appear in the logo, packaging, and other merchandise, it also makes an appearance at many of the stations itself.
This big green dinosaur can be found at some of the Sinclair gas stations throughout the United States. I first found a Sinclair dinosaur in South Dakota on my way to Mount Rushmore.
Site: The Sinclair Oil Dinosaur
Location: Off of I-90, South Dakota
Cost: Free (gas will cost you)
Hours: Always visible.
Date: August 30, 2008
The Sinclair Oil Dinosaur – South Dakota | No Comments » |
Posted by Val on October 22nd, 2009 at 10:45 am | Permalink | No Comments » |
The Fremont section of Seattle is home to some pretty weird things. One of the newer additions to the area are two large topiaries in the shape of mother and child Apatosauruses. These ivy-covered dinosaurs are a site to behold indeed! Especially, if they aren’t completely ivy-covered…
Back in 1999 Jon Hegeman and a group of other Fremont locals purchased the dinos from Seattle Center for the grand total of $1. With the purchase they had two days to move the creatures, and, with much help, they did.
The mother dino is about 66-feet long, and together, the dinosaur topiaries weigh in at about 5 tons and require about 7,000 ivy plans to cover them completely.
The dinos may seem like a strange edition to any town, but considering many of the other sites in the area, these beasts are pretty tame.
Site: Apatosaurus Dinosaur Topiaries
Location: Phinney Ave and 34th St., Seattle, Washington (Fremont area)
Cost: Free
Hours: Always visible.
Date: June 29, 2009
Apatosaurus Dinosaur Topiaries in Fremont, Seattle | No Comments » |
Posted by Val on October 21st, 2009 at 1:23 pm | Permalink | 4 Comments » |
On May 22, 1936, a herd of dinosaurs officially made their home in Rapid City, South Dakota, and they haven’t moved since. No need to feel alarmed though! This hill-top Dinosaur Park is a playground of giant green cartoon-like sculptures!
Dinosaur Park was built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration and, in 1990, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The iron, wire, and concrete-constructed sculptures were designed by Emmet Sullivan and were originally gray in color. In the 1950s they were repainted bright green with white details and not much, besides a little wear and tear from children climbing them, has changed since.
Five dinosaurs climb the hill: a Triceratops, a Stegosaurus, an Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus), a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and an Anatotitan.
Two others were added later near the gift shop: a Protoceratops and a Dimetrodon.
The Brontosaurus is the largest of the creatures at 80-feet long and 28-feet high and stands high above the rest. In fact, it can be seen from anywhere in the town!
The park was crafted to capitalize on the tourists coming in to see Mount Rushmore, but it is definitely a must-see for any Silly American adventurers out there who want to see some kitschy fun! Kids and adults alike have loved Dinosaur Park since the 1930s…and these dinos aren’t going extinct anytime soon!
Site: Dinosaur Park
Location: 940 Skyline Drive, Rapid City, SD
Cost: Free
Hours: Daylight Hours.
Advisory: Steep flagstone stairs may limit handicapped accessibility.
Date: August 30, 2008
Rapid City Dinosaur Park | 4 Comments » |
