Rapid City in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Protoceratops

(Protoceratops andrewsi)

— Then and Now —

Protoceratops Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

1. Protoceratops Marker

Inscription.

SIZE: 2.5 feet tall & 6 feet long
WEIGHT: 200 lbs
DIET: Herbivore
NAME MEANING: First horned face
DINOSAUR CLASSIFICATION: Ceratopsia
TIME PERIOD: Middle Cretaceous (80 million years ago)
MOVEMENT: Quadrupedal

QUICK FACTS:
① The Ceratopsian dinosaurs are characterized by a bony frill on the back of the skull and a unique upper beak bone, called a ramphotheca.

② Protoceratops was a predecessor of the more familiar horned dinosaurs such as Triceratops.

③ Protoceratops' ancestors were small, bipedal ceratopsians. Protoceratops, on the other hand, were larger and walked on four legs. They also had strongly developed hind-limbs which gave their back a pronounced arch.

④ The strong muscle in its hindlimbs and its larger feet with flat, shovel-like toe bones indicate they may have been diggers - creating burrows and shelters at least partially underground.

⑤ The remains of hundreds of unique individuals have been found at all stages of growth, indicating newly hatched young. Interestingly, one Protoceratops specimen was fossili[z]ed while locked in combat with a Velociraptor.

⑥

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Their fossils are found in northern China and Mongolia.

⑦ An early Ceratopsian species like the Protoceratops migrated to North America and evolved into much larger horned dinosaurs like the Triceratops.

THEN [Early photo of the sculpture]

NOW [Modern artist rendition of the dinosaur]
——————————————————————————
PROTOCERATOPS
A primitive type of horned dinosaur
Found only in Mongolia, but a similar kind
lived in North America
Age: Late Cretaceous - 95 million years ago

Erected by City of Rapid City.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Paleontology • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 44° 4.667′ N, 103° 14.654′ W. Marker is in Rapid City, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Markers and sculpture are near the Dinosaur Park Gift Shop. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 940 Skyline Drive, Rapid City SD 57701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West River

and in the Badlands.

It is also in the American Black Hills,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

2. Protoceratops Marker

Earlier marker near the sculpture

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dimetrodon (a few steps from this marker); Dinosaur Park History & Creation (within shouting distance of this marker); Works Progress Administration (within shouting distance of this marker); Trachodon (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stegosaurus (about 400 feet away); Apatosaurus (about 400 feet away); Tyrannosaurus Rex (about 500 feet away); Triceratops (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rapid City.

Protoceratops Marker and Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

3. Protoceratops Marker and Sculpture

Protoceratops Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

4. Protoceratops Sculpture

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 10, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.