Dinosaur museum highlights reopening of Sparwood Museum

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on May 6, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Five months after its doors were shuttered, the Sparwood Museum is reopening Sunday with a dino-mite exhibition.

The newly renovated museum will have redone exhibits and new artifacts when the doors open Sunday at 11 a.m.

The highlight of the opening will be a dinosaur exhibit revolving around the discovery of two different types of footprints at Line Creek.

“It’s one of the few times in Canada where there is two different species, a carnivore and a herbivore” in one track, said manager Kim Pryhitko Friday.

The two sets of footprints were cast and from them a seven-foot leg smashing through the ceiling of one was designed.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Pryhitko. There is also a 20-foot skeleton of one and replica of the other’s foot and skeleton.

“This has been years in the making” for eight to 10 years since the prints were found, added the manager.

“There’s been a lot involved in getting to this point and it’s turned out just fantastic.”

The museum will be open until 5 p.m. Sunday but on Monday summer hours begin with doors opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m.

The museum tells the stories of mining and area communities including Michel, Natal, Corbin, Middletown and Sparwood.

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