New Dinosaur At American Museum Of Natural History Debuts Sunday

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY – There’s a new star at the American Museum of Natural History, and he or she – a museum representative told Patch that the dinosaur’s gender isn’t known – is about 150 million years old.

Starting Sunday, Dec. 8, New Yorkers can see "Apex," one of the largest and most complete Stegosaurus fossils ever discovered, at the American Museum of Natural History. The massive skeleton stands 11.5 feet tall and stretches 27 feet in length – and consists of more than 254 bone elements. It will debut in the Kenneth C. Griffin Exploration Atrium, part of the museum’s Gilder Center.

Apex, nearly 80 percent complete – remarkable for a dinosaur – was discovered in 2022 in the Morrison Formation near Dinosaur, Colorado, and purchased at auction earlier this year by hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, CEO of Citadel, for a reported $44.6 million. If you're wondering, that's believed to be the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction.

Stegosaurus, a four-legged herbivore that foraged on a wide variety plants during the late Jurassic, is a fan favorite – and not just for paleontologists.

“It’s one of the top five iconic dinosaurs of all time,” said Roger Benson, a paleontology curator at the museum. “It may not be everyone’s favorite, but I think it’s up there.”

Patch agrees.

Starting on Sunday, visitors will be able to examine the fossil from all angles in its initial location, a glass-enclosed alcove visible from Theodore Roosevelt Park. Next fall, Apex will move to the museum's fourth floor, where it will serve as a centerpiece for the fossil halls. Apex will remain on view for four years, after which a cast will take its place.

Museum paleontologists aim to uncover new insights into Stegosaurus growth, lifespan, and species traits, with support from a Griffin-funded fellowship dedicated to this research.

Preliminary plans involve analyzing the fossil’s thigh bone to produce the first-ever growth curve for the species and investigating how the dinosaur’s skeleton evolved from juvenile to adult. Digital models of the fossil, created using CT scans, will be shared with researchers worldwide.

Sean Decatur, the museum's president, described Apex as a "scientifically important specimen" that adds to the museum’s legacy of leadership in paleontology.

Griffin, who was not present at a press conference on Thursday, said in a statement that he hopes Apex will inspire wonder in visitors of all ages. “The joy and awe every child feels coloring a Stegosaurus with their crayons will now be brought to life.”