The Prehistoric Museum, USU-Eastern , formerly known as the College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum , is a museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums located in Price , Utah . The museum seeks to promote public understanding of prehistory through interpretive exhibits, educational programs, collections, and research. The museum is located near many paleontological and archaeological sites in a region known as Castle Country, notably in the San Rafael Swell and nearby canyons throughout the Book Cliffs area such as Nine Mile Canyon and Range Creek Canyon.
18-522: The Prehistoric Museum was established in 1961 as a cooperative effort by the former College of Eastern Utah and the community of Price. On May 8, 1961, the Board of Regents established the museum. At that time, funding for the museum was supplied by the geology department at the college. The museum officially opened to the public on June 3, 1961, on the second floor of the Price Municipal Building in
36-598: A GED , they are accepted. Since 2020, Utah State University, including USU Eastern, has been test-optional, meaning students do not need to submit ACT/SAT scores for admission. USU Eastern competes athletically as the Utah State Eastern Eagles and is the only campus in the USU statewide system to have its own athletics program. The Eagles are a member of the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) and
54-514: A budget-cutting measure was proposed to dismantle the college and sell the property. The issue went to the ballot during the election of 1954 with 56,000 petition signatures and a subsequent 78% of the vote to reject such a measure. In 1959, the college was joined with the University of Utah and acted as a branch of the University for 10 years. During the partnership, the campus grew significantly and
72-545: A popular culture boom brought thousands more visitors down the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway and to the museum in the 1990s. New development in Utah and the renaissance in dinosaur research has resulted in new finds and an increased level of interest in the museum. The museum now serves as an important repository housing over 750,000 prehistoric specimens from around the state. The museum's national accreditation by
90-619: A small converted conference room. After expanding into the hallways of the City Hall it moved into the old city gymnasium in 1971. In later years, the museum became an appropriated line item through the State of Utah. In 1990-91, the appropriation for the museum was greatly increased because of the tremendous expansion of the museum. A new addition was opened, later to become the Hall of Dinosaurs. Through these two separate expansions during its 45-year history,
108-508: A spirit squad consisting of a cheerleading squad, dance team, drumline, and mascot. The rodeo enjoyed tremendous success in their first ever trip to the CNFR, placing 12th overall. Additionally there are several intramural sports such as ultimate frisbee, flag football, and volleyball. 39°36′28″N 110°48′07″W / 39.607689°N 110.801947°W / 39.607689; -110.801947 Joe Peterson (educator) Joe Peterson
126-590: Is a public regional college within the Utah State University system. The USU Eastern campus is located in Price, Utah , United States. Founded as Carbon College in 1937, the college joined the University of Utah system in 1959 for 10 years and was renamed College of Eastern Utah (CEU). In 1969, the Utah System of Higher Education was created ending the relationship between the University of Utah and CEU. CEU entered
144-724: Is an American university administrator. In the summer of 2010, he was appointed as the first Chancellor of the Utah State University - College of Eastern Utah . Peterson was born in San Juan County, Utah and raised in Carbon County, Utah . These are the two counties that have USU Eastern campuses. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Reno . Peterson began his career as an English professor at Utah State University . He then taught at Dixie State College and later served as dean of Arts, Letters and Sciences. At
162-558: The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry . It is one of USU’s three residential campuses to ensure students have access to housing and dining while attending USU Eastern. USU Eastern is also home to an accredited museum, the renowned USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum . In 2011, Utah State University received a confidential gift of 25 acres near the USU Eastern campus, nearly tripling the size of the campus. The estimated value for
180-486: The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Bunnell Dmitrich Athletic Center serves as a venue for many of the athletic events. The Eagles compete in men's baseball, soccer and basketball and women's basketball, softball, soccer, and volleyball. In 2021, the volleyball team captured their first-ever SWAC regular-season title. Starting in 2016, they compete in rodeo and have
198-462: The American Alliance of Museums distinguishes it as fewer than 10% of museums are awarded such accreditation. As a state and federal repository for both paleontological and archaeological collections, the museum's holdings include more than 700,000 archaeological artifacts, comprising one of the largest and most significant collections in the country. Many of these artifacts, such as those left by
SECTION 10
#1732884538340216-706: The USU system on July 1, 2010 as Utah State University Eastern. With more than 60 degree programs, the college focuses on technical, vocational, and associate degree programs. USU Eastern competes as the Eagles and is the only statewide USU campus, apart from the Logan campus, that has an athletics program. Carbon College was formed on February 20, 1937 by the State of Utah and classes began in October 1938 with approximately 100 students. The newly formed college faced financial difficulties in 1953 when
234-458: The college became known as College of Eastern Utah (CEU). During the 1960s, CEU added several new buildings including the Geary Theater, Music Building, Science Center, and Library. In 1969, the Utah System of Higher Education was created ending the relationship between the University of Utah and CEU. During the 1970s, CEU began to focus on the mission of being a vocational-technical school for
252-602: The community. Degrees were expanded to include welding, automotive mechanics, machine shop, cosmetology, diesel mechanics, and a registered nursing program. CEU expanded courses to be taught at the San Juan Center. After the start of the 21st century, courses and enrollment began to climb to more than 2,000 students enrolled in more than 400 courses. In 2010, the College of Eastern Utah merged with Utah State University creating Utah State University Eastern (USU Eastern). Shortly after
270-637: The donation exceeds $ 4 million. The City of Price and USU have already been working on the USU Energy and Education Research Park just west of the donated parcel of land. USU Eastern offers more than 60 degree programs in academic, technical, and vocational fields. Discipline and degree options include anthropology, criminal justice, museum studies, biology, geology, business, diesel equipment technology, and small business development. USU Eastern operates under an open admissions policy, meaning that if one applies and has either graduated from high school or earned
288-494: The indigenous Fremont people , have become world-renowned. The museum's paleontological collection includes type specimens and fossil finds new to science. The collections and exhibits focus on specimens indigenous to the region and include: Exhibitions at the museum have included: 39°35′58.5″N 110°48′29″W / 39.599583°N 110.80806°W / 39.599583; -110.80806 College of Eastern Utah Utah State University Eastern ( USU Eastern )
306-501: The merger, Joe Peterson , a former vice president of instruction at Salt Lake Community College , became the school's first chancellor, reporting directly to USU president Stan L. Albrecht . Situated in the center of Price , Utah , USU Eastern's campus is set on about 12 acres (4.9 ha) and is surrounded by geological and recreational features including the San Rafael Swell , Arches National Park , Canyonlands National Park , and
324-466: The museum has become a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m) facility with another 6,000-square-foot (560 m) repository and paleontology preparation laboratory. An ongoing program of paleontology fieldwork and excavation begun in 1990 has produced 12 new species of dinosaurs and over 7,000 paleontologic specimens. Federal and state accreditation followed in 1991, allowing the museum to reposit collections from across Utah. Renewed interest in dinosaurs and
#339660