Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago
Photo: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago stands as one of America's premier natural history institutions, housing over 40 million specimens and artifacts across its 480,000 square foot facility. The museum is home to SUE, one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever discovered, measuring 40 feet in length and standing 13 feet tall at the hips. Located on Chicago's Museum Campus along Lake Michigan, the Field Museum opened in 1894 following the World's Columbian Exposition. Its paleontology collections rank among the world's finest, with dinosaur specimens that continue to reshape our understanding of prehistoric life. The museum's research facilities and public exhibitions make it a crucial bridge between scientific discovery and public education. Some Ancient Aliens theorists have suggested that radioactivity detected in dinosaur fossils displayed at the Field Museum indicates an ancient nuclear catastrophe, pointing to preservation methods as potential evidence of this claim. Paleontologists attribute the radioactive isotopes found in some fossils to natural uranium and thorium absorption during fossilization in mineral-rich sediments over millions of years—a well-documented geological process unrelated to extinction mechanisms. The scientific consensus on dinosaur extinction, supported by extensive geological evidence including the Chicxulub impact crater, points to an asteroid collision 66 million years ago rather than nuclear activity.
Timeline
Field Museum founded as the Columbian Museum of Chicago following the World's Columbian Exposition
Museum moves to its current location on Museum Campus and is renamed Field Museum of Natural History
Discovery of SUE the T. rex skeleton in South Dakota by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson
Field Museum acquires SUE after a highly publicized auction for $8.36 million
SUE goes on permanent display, becoming the museum's most famous attraction
What the Show Claims
- ›T. rex skeletons on display are painted with high-density lead paint because the original bones were discovered to be intensely radioactive, presented as evidence of an ancient nuclear event that exterminated the dinosaursS04E10
Theorist Takes
“The reason they had to paint them with lead paint is because when they discovered the bones of these T. rexes, they discovered that they were very, very intensely radioactive.”
From the Transcripts
“Most people don't realize that most of the T.Rex skeletons that are on display at various museums around the world... for instance the Field Museum in Chicago has these dinosaur skeletons, these T. rex skeletons, and they're painted with a very specific high-density lead paint.”
What Archaeology Says
The Field Museum's paleontology department has been at the forefront of dinosaur research for over a century, with expeditions that have uncovered numerous significant specimens. The museum's most famous acquisition, SUE the Tyrannosaurus rex, was discovered in 1990 by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson in the badlands of South Dakota. This nearly complete skeleton has provided unprecedented insights into T. rex biology, revealing details about the species' growth patterns, potential diseases, and even possible evidence of combat with other dinosaurs.
Scientific analysis of SUE and other dinosaur specimens at the Field Museum follows rigorous protocols established by the paleontological community. Bones are typically stabilized with consolidants and adhesives to prevent deterioration, and display specimens may receive protective coatings. However, the use of lead-based materials in fossil preparation has largely been phased out due to health concerns, with modern conservation techniques favoring safer alternatives. The museum's preparation laboratories use state-of-the-art equipment including CT scanners to study specimens without damaging them.
The scientific consensus on dinosaur extinction centers around the asteroid impact hypothesis, supported by evidence including the iridium layer found in rock formations dating to 66 million years ago. This theory, combined with volcanic activity and climate change, explains the mass extinction event that ended the Cretaceous period. While some dinosaur fossils do contain trace amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements absorbed from surrounding sediments over millions of years, this is a normal geological process and not indicative of any ancient nuclear catastrophe.
Despite decades of research, many aspects of dinosaur biology and the exact mechanisms of their extinction remain subjects of ongoing investigation. The Field Museum continues to lead research into questions about dinosaur behavior, physiology, and the complex environmental factors that contributed to their demise, using increasingly sophisticated analytical techniques to unlock secrets preserved in fossilized remains.
Mysteries & Fun Facts
SUE is believed to have been 28 years old at the time of death, making it one of the oldest T. rex specimens ever found
The museum houses over 40 million specimens and artifacts, with only a small percentage on public display at any given time
SUE's skull weighs approximately 600 pounds and had to be displayed separately from the body due to its massive weight
The Field Museum's paleontology collection includes specimens from every continent, including Antarctica
Planning a Visit
The Field Museum is open to the public year-round and is easily accessible via public transportation or car, with parking available on-site. Visitors can view SUE and other dinosaur exhibits as part of general admission, though some special exhibitions may require additional tickets.
Chicago, Illinois (located within the city on Museum Campus)
Weekday mornings tend to be less crowded, while summer months and school holidays see the highest visitor numbers. The museum's indoor location makes it an excellent destination regardless of Chicago's weather conditions.
Related Sites
Roswell
Both locations feature in Ancient Aliens discussions about extraterrestrial impacts and their effects on Earth
Tunguska explosion site
Another site where theorists propose cosmic catastrophes as explanations for geological and biological changes
Allen Hills, Antarctica (ALH 84001 meteorite find site)
Antarctic meteorite discovery site that has been linked to theories about extraterrestrial life and cosmic impacts on Earth's history