Introducing the Quarry Visitor Center

For those of you who may have never been to Dinosaur National Monument, here are a few photos of the building from the outside. From a distance it looks in good shape.

Built over the 150 foot long x 50 foot high quarry sandstone, it opened to the public in June of 1958. It won architectural awards for its innovative design. Extensive glass walls allowed for maximum ambient light and the gull shape roof reflected the rocks layers and excavated surface it was built over. A ramp led into the second floor of a turret like building that housed offices and a book store. Furthermore, it's look radically broke with the more traditional design of National Park Service visitor centers. Unfortunately the hydrophilic bentonitic mudstone beneath it would ultimately create stability problems that would spell its doom.