In 2001 paleontologists from the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History dug up the 27-foot-long backbone of an elasmosaur – a marine reptile that lived more than 90 million years ago – in south central Oklahoma. The fossilized backbone of this animal, and many more surprising Oklahoma finds, will be on view in a new exhibition opening on June 16.

Did you know Oklahoma was once home to its own version of the Loch Ness Monster?

“Collecting Oklahoma” tells the story of the Sooner state in objects and specimens collected through the museum’s more-than-100-year history. The exhibition is an official Oklahoma Centennial project and will be on view through Jan. 21, 2008. Exhibit labels are presented in English, Spanish and Cherokee.

In addition to the impressive elasmosaur fossil, “Collecting Oklahoma” will feature unique objects from across of the state. Each one has a story to tell about the fascinating natural and cultural history of the state. Included are objects from the museum’s various collection and research areas, including paleontology, archaeology, life sciences and Native American cultures and languages. None of the objects has ever before been publicly exhibited.

Did you know giant camels once roamed Oklahoma?

Our museum was founded by an act of the Territorial Legislature in 1899 and designated as the state museum of natural history by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1987. Since before statehood, scientists at the museum have been collecting and studying the natural history of the land that would come to be called Oklahoma. The objects and specimens collected by these generations of scientists have been preserved and protected in the museum’s collections for the use of future generations of researchers. In “Collecting Oklahoma,” the museum is able to highlight the rich history of Oklahoma and the fascinating story of the museum itself in one entertaining and educational exhibit.

Visitors to “Collecting Oklahoma” will be able to view the mummified skull of a camel that lived in Oklahoma more than 5 million years ago, along with the enormous leg and foot bones of another of Oklahoma’s ancient camels. They will be able to listen to the strange call of the “howling mouse” of western Oklahoma – a call normally too high-pitched for most human to hear. Visitors will have an opportunity to view Native American artifacts, including a Cheyenne headdress with 60 golden eagle feathers, and explore a simulated field camp like those used by museum curators when conducting research in Oklahoma or at other sites around the world.

"The history of the museum very closely parallels the history of the state of Oklahoma,” said museum Director Ellen Censky. “This exhibit gives us the opportunity to showcase both our collections and our contributions to the scientific history of the state. I feel sure that visitors will be very thoroughly engaged with and entertained by the exhibit. The wide variety of subject matter and the fact that there are objects from across the state will ensure that Collecting Oklahoma will appeal to a broad range of people and interests. We have provided exhibit labels in three languages to make the exhibit accessible to a larger audience, and to include Native American language in a meaningful way.”

“Collecting Oklahoma” is made possible by the Merkel Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the Kerr Foundation, Inc., and Republic Bank & Trust, with media support from CNHI Oklahoma and Cox Communications.