The Aathal Dinosaur Museum (Swiss German native name: Sauriermuseum Aathal ) is a paleontological museum in the locality Aathal of the municipality of Seegräben in the canton of Zürich , Switzerland , and one of the few dinosaur museums in Europe .
17-551: Hans-Jakob Siber, a mineral and fossil dealer, started in 1977 to exhibit temporarily a fossilized giant turtle from four and a half meters in length at his annual special show in Aathal , and was featuring the eight-meter-long skeleton of an Edmontosaurus four years later. In 1992 the collection was expanded and in 1993 the Sauriermuseum Aathal in the current building was opened. The family-owned company Siber + Siber supported
34-410: A cafeteria and a park for children ( Dino-Gardino ) are sections of the museum. Among around 645 exhibits, there are skeletons, reproductions and originals finds of Stegosaurus , Ankylosaurs , Pterosaurs , 'featured' Dinosaurs, Archaeopteryx eggs and embryos and footprints, as well as meteorites and minerals of Siber + Siber . The collection includes 10 skeletons being finds from excavations by
51-524: Is a paleontological museum in the locality Aathal of the municipality of Seegräben in the canton of Zürich , Switzerland , and one of the few dinosaur museums in Europe . Hans-Jakob Siber, a mineral and fossil dealer, started in 1977 to exhibit temporarily a fossilized giant turtle from four and a half meters in length at his annual special show in Aathal , and was featuring the eight-meter-long skeleton of an Edmontosaurus four years later. In 1992
68-524: The collection was expanded and in 1993 the Sauriermuseum Aathal in the current building was opened. The family-owned company Siber + Siber supported the funding of the further activities. The former building of the Baumwollspinnerei Streiff & Cie weaving mill in Aathal was built in 1903 and houses the museum on about 4,500 square metres (48,000 sq ft), including the outside park on
85-564: The effluence of the southern end of the Pfäffikersee and then enters Wetzikon where the river makes a U-turn in the middle of the town towards a southwestern direction before it enters the valley. After the valley of about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) the Abbach enters Uster, where it also used to be called Usterner Aa , runs through Uster in a western direction before it enters the Greifensee about in
102-423: The funding of the further activities. The former building of the Baumwollspinnerei Streiff & Cie weaving mill in Aathal was built in 1903 and houses the museum on about 4,500 square metres (48,000 sq ft), including the outside park on the surrounding property. The focus is on the museum's own excavations and original dinosaur bones, 19 special exhibitions and subsequently integrated new finds. A shop,
119-460: The middle of the lake's eastern shore, near Niederuster. The hamlet of Aathal in the middle of the valley belongs to the municipality of Seegräben . The Aa Valley is a significant traffic artery. It connects the metropolitan area of Zurich with the municipalities of the Zürich Oberland (Zurich Highlands). In addition to the heavy traffic on the national expressway between Uster and Wetzikon
136-434: The museum respectively the Baumwollspinnerei Streiff & Cie building is listed as a Class A object of national importance. Aathal (Valley) The Aatal (Aa Valley) is a narrow, steep valley of about 40 metres (130 ft) depth surrounded by forests. It is situated between the towns of Wetzikon and Uster in the canton of Zürich , Switzerland . Through the valley flows the river Aabach , which starts at
153-442: The museum's team, 10 further original skeletons from Dino, air and marine saurians, 19 detached skeleton fossil dinosaur replicas as well as 31 life-size dinosaur models and 42 replicas of dinosaurs and dinosaur skulls. In 2012 there were 437 guided tours, of which about three hundred for school classes, and since 1992 about 1,571,012 visitors. The staff of the museum consists of approximately 33 employees, of which six are members of
170-441: The museum's team, 10 further original skeletons from Dino, air and marine saurians, 19 detached skeleton fossil dinosaur replicas as well as 31 life-size dinosaur models and 42 replicas of dinosaurs and dinosaur skulls. In 2012 there were 437 guided tours, of which about three hundred for school classes, and since 1992 about 1,571,012 visitors. The staff of the museum consists of approximately 33 employees, of which six are members of
187-506: The paleontological-scientific team. Beginning in the early 1990s, Hans-Jakob Siber and his team perform excavations on the Howe Ranch in the upper Jurassic Morrison Formation , and since 2010 in the Dana-Quarry, Ten Sleep, Big Horn Basin, Wyoming, USA. Skeletons are recovered and subsequently dissected, mounted and exhibited in Aathal. The excavation technique is presented in the museum, and
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#1732917709005204-438: The paleontological-scientific team. Beginning in the early 1990s, Hans-Jakob Siber and his team perform excavations on the Howe Ranch in the upper Jurassic Morrison Formation , and since 2010 in the Dana-Quarry, Ten Sleep, Big Horn Basin, Wyoming, USA. Skeletons are recovered and subsequently dissected, mounted and exhibited in Aathal. The excavation technique is presented in the museum, and the taxidermists may be seen at work in
221-533: The so-called Schaupräparatorium . Public transportation is provided by the S-Bahn Zürich line S14 (ZVV) to Aathal railway station. The museum is located about 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the station towards Uster . The museum is closed on Mondays. After hours visits are available by appointment, as well as guided tours for groups. In the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance ,
238-583: The surrounding property. The focus is on the museum's own excavations and original dinosaur bones, 19 special exhibitions and subsequently integrated new finds. A shop, a cafeteria and a park for children ( Dino-Gardino ) are sections of the museum. Among around 645 exhibits, there are skeletons, reproductions and originals finds of Stegosaurus , Ankylosaurs , Pterosaurs , 'featured' Dinosaurs, Archaeopteryx eggs and embryos and footprints, as well as meteorites and minerals of Siber + Siber . The collection includes 10 skeletons being finds from excavations by
255-475: The taxidermists may be seen at work in the so-called Schaupräparatorium . Public transportation is provided by the S-Bahn Zürich line S14 (ZVV) to Aathal railway station. The museum is located about 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the station towards Uster . The museum is closed on Mondays. After hours visits are available by appointment, as well as guided tours for groups. In the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance ,
272-479: The three S-Bahn railway lines S5, S14, and S15 traverse the valley, each at a half-hourly clock-face schedule so that in average every 5 minutes a train passes through the valley. The S14 stops in Aathal half-hourly. Besides the buildings of different former spinning mills, which are connected by an industrial teaching path, one finds also the Aathal Dinosaur Museum in Aathal. During the 18/19th century
289-420: The water power was intensely used by the cotton industry. Since 2008, there are attempts to re-use the small hydroelectric power plants for power production. Ten power plants operate again nowadays. 47°20′24″N 8°45′26″E / 47.3401°N 8.7572°E / 47.3401; 8.7572 Aathal Dinosaur Museum The Aathal Dinosaur Museum (Swiss German native name: Sauriermuseum Aathal )
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