Dinosaurs of the Midwest

With the premiere of Walking With Dinosaurs on Iowa PBS this month, you might be wondering if there were ever any dinosaurs walking around what would become our own backyards. The short answer is yes! The long answer is fascinating.

dinosaur fossil footprint

Fossil Discoveries

If you've ever been to a dinosaur museum, you may have noticed that most fossil discoveries in the US have been in the western regions of the country; in states like Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. While those areas produce the largest amount of fossils, nearly every state has been the site of at least one dinosaur fossil discovery. For nearly the entire time dinosaurs existed on Earth, what would become the midwest was actually underwater! Referred to as the Western Interior Seaway, this giant sea split the North American continent completely in two and existed for around 34 million years. Fossils of sea life from the time such as ammonites and Pteranodons are commonly found in the area.

While rare, dinosaur fossils have been found in the midwestern states. Missouri even designated a "State Dinosaur" in 2022. The Parrosaurus missouriensis was discovered in 1942 and to date is the only species of dinosaur ever discovered in Missouri. Originally classified as a sauropod, it is now thought to have been a hadrosaur, a "duck-billed dinosaur." Some fragments of hadrosaur bones have also been found in Iowa.

The Glaciers

In Iowa, the formation of glaciers is likely another reason why dinosaur bones are difficult to find here. The "Des Moines lobe" was a large glacier that traveled through the north-central and central areas of the state around 15,000 years ago, ending in what is now Des Moines. Glaciers move across large swaths of land relatively quickly and disturb sediment and other Earth deposits. The movement can destroy fossils that may have been there originally, or even push them to another location, giving another state the future glory of dinosaur discovery.

How to Watch

Whether the dinos were true midwesterners or not, you'll want to see the amazing discoveries detailed in Walking With Dinosaurs. This long-awaited sequel to the 1999 original was produced as part of a partnership between public broadcasting organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. This international effort features the latest in paleontological knowledge and digital technology over six 50-minute episodes. Walking With Dinosaurs airs on Iowa PBS on Tuesday, June 17 and Wednesday, June 18 starting at 7 p.m. Missed the broadcast premiere? Stream anytime with Iowa PBS Passport.