About Us

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Dinosaur21 began as something deeply personal.

Our daughter, Samantha, happens to have Down syndrome. The “21” in Dinosaur21 comes from Trisomy 21, but the heart of the name goes much deeper than that. When Sam was a baby, doctor visits were frequent—and more than once, it felt as though she was being treated like something unfamiliar, almost as if she were a relic from another time. I used to joke that she was like a dinosaur—rare, misunderstood, and remarkable.

As Sam grew, so did her interests. Dinosaurs were first. Then rocks. Then mining—everywhere we went. She loved picking things up, sorting them, examining them, and discovering what made each piece different. Her grandmother shared that same love of rocks and minerals, and that curiosity became something they connected over. Eventually, that fascination grew into fossil mining and hands-on exploration, and that’s where Dinosaur21 truly took shape.

We realized that as Sam got older, we wanted to build something around her, not despite her—something she could enjoy, participate in, and feel proud of. That’s when we created our portable mining system, allowing her (and her friends) to mine anytime, anywhere. Sam has joined us in the field, helped us set up and break down at events, and while she prefers to stay behind the scenes, she absolutely loves watching people—especially younger kids—discover fossils and stones for the first time.

At its core, Dinosaur21 exists to spark curiosity.

We don’t claim to be paleontologists or geologists. We are lifelong learners, just like the people we serve. Our goal is to encourage curiosity about the Earth—its history, its materials, and the stories hidden beneath our feet. There is always something new to learn, and we are constantly researching, refining, and discovering alongside our community.

In a world that spends so much time on screens, we believe there’s real value in stepping outside, touching the Earth, and engaging with something tangible. Fossils, rocks, and minerals invite questions. They slow you down. They connect you to time, place, and history in a way very few things can.

Dinosaur21 is for everyone—kids, adults, families, educators, collectors, and the quietly curious. Every mining bag we create, every fossil we offer, and every journal or book we design is made to be intentional, educational, and unique. We are moving toward producing our own original lines—journals, books, and hands-on experiences that reflect who we are and what we believe in.

Our mission is simple:
To educate, to inspire curiosity, and to remind people that everyone has capabilities—and endless potential to learn.

Every time you visit our site, our hope is that you’ll find something interesting—something you didn’t know, something we’re exploring, or something that invites you to discover a little more about the world beneath your feet.

Welcome to Dinosaur21.
We’re glad you’re here.