Students, community have chance to view authentic dinosaur fossils

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Area students and community members have the chance to view authentic dinosaur fossils through the Mobile Museum of Earth History on display this week at an East Prairie church.

On Tuesday, students in prekindergarten through fourth grade from St. Henry Catholic School in Charleston were among members of the public who visited the mobile museum at First Christian Church in East Prairie.

Students were able to view 20 different specimen which included authentic fossils of Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops.

“It was such a wonderful opportunity,” said St. Henry Principal Amy Galemore. “We’re limited on educational field trips for our students so this was perfect for us.”

Galemore said with St. Henry being a Catholic school, she also appreciated the religious aspect incorporated into the interactive presentation for private schools.

The students also agreed the visit was worth their time.

“It was cool,” said Graham Willoughby, a third grader at St. Henry. “I liked how he talked about the beavers.”

Kody Doles, a second grader at St. Henry, agreed.

“It is great,” Kody said of the presentation. “We got to see some dinosaur fossils and it’s at a church, and churches are originally about God.”

Students from East Prairie High School and Doyle Elementary in East Prairie were also scheduled to view the exhibit this week.

“When the students come through, they have a public school presentation (and religious presentation for private schools), and in the evening, there is a creation story,” said Patricia Helms with First Christian Church.

Helms said she first learned about the exhibit, which is offered through Creation Truth Foundation of Noble, Okla. The program was presented to First Christian Church’s board which approved the church providing funds to bring the exhibit to East Prairie.

“We felt like it was something we could do for the public,” Helms said.

The mobile museum is open this week only to the public from 8:30 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily through Thursday at the church located at 215 S. Washington St. in East Prairie.

Matt Miles, president of Creation Truth Foundation, noted each evening, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the presentation addresses topics with the Bible and history.

“These creatures aren’t necessarily prehistoric. There’s evidence that we lived with them; we trust the Bible as being accurate,” Miles said.

Ryan Cox, speaker for Creation Truth Foundation, is also on hand to assist Miles with this week’s presentations.

“These fossils are authentic and what one would find if they visit a museum of natural history,” Cox said of the exhibit.

Cox said he and Miles travel throughout the United States from February through November presenting the exhibit to communities.

While the presentation includes fun facts about the dinosaurs and other fossils, one goal is also to remind individuals to be critical thinkers.

“We tell them to always keep studying, and be the best students they can be,” Cox said.