The 40-foot long Tyrannosaurus rex that failed to sell at a Las Vegas auction in October has finally found a home in an Oregon museum.
Though the skeleton, one of the most complete ever found, was purchased by a private buyer, it will be on display at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland beginning Dec. 17 through summer 2010.
"It is a truly unique and magnificent specimen that has opened new doors to scientific discovery about the life of the Tyrannosaurus rex," said OMSI president Nancy Stueber in a press release. "We’re pleased to offer visitors the rare opportunity to view its real bones up close.”
Known as Samson, the 66-million-year-old fossil was discovered in South Dakota in 1987. Because the skull was largely intact when it was found, it is perhaps the finest T.rex skull ever unearthed. The fossil contains 60 percent of the original bones, 170 in all, making it the third most complete T. rex specimen in the world.
Bonhams & Butterfields auction house estimated the dinosaur was worth between $2 million and $8 million, but bidders failed to meet the owner's specified minimum sale price at the October auction. The most complete skeleton, known as Sue, went for $8 million at auction to the Chicago Field Museum. Samson's new owner paid an undisclosed sum.
Images: 1) Bonhams & Butterfields. 2) OMSI.
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