May 11, 2016

Special exhibition at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History; DB Schenker responsible for 20-ton shipment

FREEPORT, NEW YORK--(Marketwired - May 10, 2016) - The world's most famous T. rex exhibit is coming to Santa Barbara, California. "A T. Rex named Sue" will be on display in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History from May 28 until September 11.

After being on display in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the fully articulated cast of the 67 million-year-old fossil is being carefully transported in 40 crates by the Canadian branch of the German logistics company DB Schenker. It will take three trucks and seven days to move the T. rex to its next destination in the United States.

"We are very excited and happy to offer Sue a temporary home," says Sherri Frazer, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. "No dinosaur in the world compares to her. We're talking about the largest, most complete and best preserved T. rex ever found." Sue's size certainly is impressive: 42 feet (12.80m) long and 12 feet (3.66m) high at the hips.

"Schenker Canada is proud to be part of the modern Sue story. It's not every day you get to move a 20 ton (42,181 lbs.) dinosaur exhibit," says Eric Dewey, President and CEO of Schenker Canada Ltd. "There is a lot of careful planning involved to make sure Sue can be put back together as one impressive skeleton."

Sue has 250 fully replicated bones and her rib cage alone weighs over 800 lbs. (360 kg). While the rib cage travels in crate number "T-rex 1" in truck 1, the cast skull (260 kg/573 lbs.) of the meat-eating species is packed in crate number "T-rex 34" in another truck. Sue's "passport" consists of very specific cross-border paperwork for the three trucks, allowing them to travel across the border together.

The legendary Tyrannosaurus Rex was uncovered in South Dakota in 1990 by paleontologist Sue Hendrickson. Seven years later, the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois purchased Sue at auction for $8.4 million USD. Since the year 2000, a fully articulated, replicated skeleton of Sue has travelled to 70 different locations around the world.

"She inspires as much awe today as she probably did 67 million years ago," says Lindsay Washburn, Traveling Exhibitions Manager at the Field Museum. "I'm sure Sue will prove to be an absolute thrill for children of all ages in Santa Barbara as well."

This exhibit was created by the Field Muum, Chicago, and made possible through the generosity of McDonald's Corporation.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History reconnects more than 100,000 people each year (including their 5,700 members) to nature indoors and outdoors. Uniquely nestled in nature, the Museum is located along Mission Creek in the Mission Canyon area. The Museum has ten indoor exhibit halls focusing on regional natural history including astronomy, birds, insects, geology, mammals, marine life, paleontology, plant life, and the Chumash Indians. Also, the Museum is home to the only full-dome planetarium on the Central Coast, a research library, and the John & Peggy Maximus Art Gallery.

Beyond exhibitions, the Museum offers science education programs for adults and children, preserves a collection of more than three million specimens and artifacts, and maintains ongoing scientific research. The Museum's mission is to inspire a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world.

About the Field Museum, Chicago

Since its inception in 1893, The Field Museum has dedicated itself to exploring the Earth and its peoples, building on the strength of its world-renowned collections and scientific research to engage visitors of all ages. Through innovative exhibitions and education programs, cutting-edge environmental conservation projects, and pioneering fieldwork undertaken on every continent, Field Museum staff members share their knowledge about important scientific, cultural, and environmental issues with an average of 1.2 million visitors each year.