Did You Know? You Can Walk Where Dinosaurs Once Roamed — Right Here in Glen Rose

Glen Rose, Texas — Before Texas had cowboys, oil fields, or even oak trees… it had dinosaurs.
And not just fossils — footprints. Real tracks, left in the mud over 100 million years ago, still visible today beneath the flowing waters of the Paluxy River.

That’s the story behind Texas Historical Marker #1226, one of the most fascinating windows into ancient Texas you’ll ever find. Deep in the limestone riverbed near Glen Rose, time itself froze the steps of three incredible creatures:

• Acrocanthosaurus, a fierce, meat-eating predator that once ruled the region.

• Camptosaurus, a plant-eater whose three-toed, bird-like prints march delicately through the stone.

• And Pleurocoelus, a gentle giant leaving behind massive, five-toed impressions — like nature’s calling cards from the age of giants.

These tracks were discovered around 1910, but for years they were just a local curiosity. When the Paluxy River ran low, farmers would wade into the shallow pools and catch catfish stranded in the ancient footprints. It wasn’t until 1938, when museum and university teams began formal excavations, that the world truly took notice.

Today, those same tracks draw visitors from around the globe to Glen Rose — a town that proudly wears the title of the “Dinosaur Capital of Texas.”

So if you’ve ever wanted to stand where giants once walked, this is your chance. Pack your sense of wonder and head to Glen Rose, where ancient history meets small-town Texas charm.

👉 Start planning your prehistoric adventure today at VisitGlenRoseTX.com.