Chasing Scotty: A Cross-Country T-Rex Hunt

Download PDF

Written by: Dwayne Ellis

As spring unfolds, many Canadians start planning their travels—some head to warmer, tropical destinations, while others explore local gems closer to home. In today’s post, QMNH volunteer Dwayne Ellis shares insights from his recent trip to Eastend, Saskatchewan, where he sought out Scotty, the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus rex, and the fascinating treasures he discovered in her stead.

For nearly three years, I’ve been walking past Scotty several times a day, several days a week. This past fall, I decided it was time to visit Scotty’s home. To clarify, I’ve actually been walking by Scotty’s head—the rest of Scotty resides in Eastend, Saskatchewan.

Let me explain. At the Quinte Museum of Natural History, we have a replica of the head of one of the largest Tyrannosaurus rex specimens ever discovered. That’s where I first encountered Scotty, displayed in our section devoted to theropods—the two- legged, meat-eating dinosaurs that ruled the Earth just before a massive extinction event wiped out much of life on land and sea.

As captivating as Scotty’s head is, the real story extends far beyond it. Scotty represents the people who found her, the monumental effort to excavate her, the years of painstaking work to prepare her for public display, and the incredible amount of money required to create her home. But Scotty is also about what we’ve learned—and continue to learn—because of her.

My journey to Scotty’s home was a small adventure by comparison. For my twin sister and me, it became part of a larger trip, one that brought back memories of past travels across Canada. On those earlier trips, Scotty was still resting where she fell over 65 million years ago.

On August 16, 1991, RSM P2523.8—better known as Scotty—was discovered by Robert Gebhardt near the small town of Eastend in southwestern Saskatchewan. The town, named for being at the east end of a historic RCMP district, sits in a rugged and beautiful part of the province. Scotty herself was around 28 to 30 years old when she lived, approximately 68 million years ago.

It took three years to assemble the team that would ultimately excavate Scotty, and another five years for Tim Tokaryk and his colleagues to remove her from the ground. Over 6,000 visitors came to the site in just the first year of work. They recovered 65–70% of Scotty’s skeleton—an astonishing level of completeness for a T. rex fossil. Her name, by the way, comes from a celebratory bottle of Scotch opened after her discovery. They even found fossilized T. rex dung—scientifically known as “coprolite”—nearby!

Today, Scotty’s home is the T. rex Discovery Centre, an impressive facility built into the side of a mesa on the edge of Eastend. The center features a replica dig site out front and trails through the rugged countryside.

Now for my experience. When my sister and I arrived, the center was closed for the season. (It seems much of western Canada shuts down when school resumes in the fall.) So, what to do?

We decided to explore Eastend instead. Right in the heart of town, we found a small museum. Inside, I discovered a real gem. A warm and welcoming volunteer greeted us and was genuinely thrilled to share the museum’s treasures. We explored an incredible collection of fossils—many excavated locally, with explanations like, “That came from Bob’s place.” The specimens ranged from 70 million years ago through the Ice Ages to more recent history.

The museum also featured artifacts from Indigenous cultures and early settlers of the West. But what really stopped me in my tracks was a bass drum, cymbals, and a foot pedal dating back to at least the 1940s. As a drummer, this unexpected discovery felt like a personal bonus! In downtown Eastend, I had stumbled upon nearly 70 million years of history, all in one place. I loved it.

On this trip, my sister and I drove over 8,800 km, visiting friends, catching up with each other, and finding Scotty’s home. On the way back from Kimberly, BC, we made stops in Drumheller, Regina, and Moose Jaw, where my sister enjoyed a spa day and we explored the famous tunnels.

But my journey with Scotty isn’t over. I’ll have to go back to Eastend earlier in the season someday. Maybe next time, I’ll even give Scotty a big kiss!

Image Credits

Dwayne in Front of the Drumheller Sign by Dwayne Ellis

T-Rex Exhibit at the Quinte Museum of Natural History by The Quinte Museum of Natural History

Coprolite at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum by Dwayne Ellis

Drum set from Bob’s Place by Dwayne Ellis

Scotty at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum by Dwyane Ellis