It’s no secret that Arizona holds more wonders than just the Grand Canyon. It has many other wonderful and wild things to behold.
Daily there is some sort of fascinating Arizona news happening, such as a video of a bobcat fighting a rattlesnake, or the discovery of a distinctive “kissing cactus,” and you can even stop by uniquely Arizona coffee shops like the honey-centric coffee shop House of Honey owned by a family of beekeepers.
Today we bring you news of a new free museum in Williams, Arizona, that is all about poop.
Specifically, coprolite, which is fossilized poop.
Here's how to visit the new Poozeum, devoted to dinosaur poop and what we can learn from it.
Who founded the Poozeum?
George Frandsen owns the Poozeum in Williams, Arizona.
He said he has always been fascinated by dinosaurs and fossils. He became interested in coprolites, which are fossilized feces, after seeing one for the first time at age 18 in a rock and fossil shop in Moab, Utah.
"Until then, I had never heard of coprolites, or fossilized poop. This discovery sparked my curiosity, leading me to learn everything I could about coprolites," Frandsen said by email. "I soon realized that these peculiar prehistoric ‘time capsules’ offer direct insights into the diets, behaviors and environments of prehistoric creatures - which I thought was incredible!"
Frandsen's interest has not only given him a business but has also earned him and the Poozeum two Guinness World Records: one for the world's largest collection of coprolites and another for the largest coprolite from a carnivore.
What's on display at the poop museum
Frandsen says he has an "extremely diverse" collection of fossilized poop at the Poozeum.
"There are pieces that are truly one of a kind, including a dinosaur bone that has a coprolite on it, showing that an animal pooped on a dinosaur bone, and they fossilized together.
"There is also a gar fish that has poop lodged in its teeth - both fossilized together, indicating that it intentionally or accidentally ate poop prior to death."
When did the Poozeum open?
Over the years, Frandsen's collection has grown to 8,000 pieces and they're all on display at the Poozeum, which opened on May 18, 2024 and calls itself "the world's premier dinosaur poop museum and gift shop."
"Several years ago, I noticed a glaring absence of coprolite representation in mainstream sources and museum exhibits," Frandsen said. "This observation motivated me to create a traveling coprolite exhibition and donate it to museums across the USA, aiming to address this void."
He said the overwhelming enthusiastic response from visitors at the temporary exhibits highlighted the demand for a "dedicated space where coprolites could be prominently showcased, and their scientific significance thoroughly explored."
Where is the poop museum?
The Poozeum is at 109 W. Railroad Ave., Williams. It's open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays through Fridays and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free.
Why open his poop museum in Williams?
"I chose Williams, Arizona, as the home of the Poozeum for its strong sense of community, beautiful surroundings and its pro-small business stance," Frandsen said. "Additionally, it's a tourist hub for the Grand Canyon. People who are coming here obviously love the beauty of natural things. I thought that bringing the Poozeum to Williams would provide an additional activity they could enjoy while they are in the area."
For more information visit www.poozeum.com.
What does coprolite mean?
Coprolite is "the fossilized feces of animals that lived millions of years ago. They are trace fossils, meaning not of the animal's actual body," according to the Natural History Museum in London.
Scientists use coprolites to identify what animals excreted them and get clues about that animal's diet.
Coprolites can be found in sedimentary rock and near other fossils, according to the Poozeum website. Frandsen said his favorite coprolite hunting spot is along the coast of Lyme Regis, England, which is often referred to as "the Jurassic Coast."
Is coprolite worth anything?
Coprolites have a great range of values depending on the size, distinct impressions, ripples and "the classic poo look," Frandsen said on livescience.com. These factors determine whether the coprolite is worth a few dollars or a few thousand dollars.
What is the largest turd fossilized?
According to Wikipedia, the Lloyds Bank coprolite is fossilized human feces that was recovered by the York Archaeological Trust while excavating a Viking settlement in northern England in 1972.
The Lloyds Bank coprolite is possibly the largest example of fossilized human feces to date, measuring 20 centimeters long and 5 centimeters wide, or 8 inches by 2 inches.
Poop museum: The Poozeum in Williams, Arizona
When: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays through Fridays, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays
Where: 109 W. Railroad Ave., Williams.
Admission: Free.
Details: 928-225-8080, poozeum.com
More fun things to do in Arizona:Check out this new indoor slide park coming to metro Phoenix
Meredith G. White is the entertainment reporter for The Arizona Republic |azcentral.com. You can find her onFacebookas Meredith G. White, onInstagramandX, formerlyTwitter: @meredithgwhite, and email her atmeredith.white@arizonarepublic.com.
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