Big things come in small packages.  This includes the skeleton of a 13 foot high, 42 foot long Tyrannosaurus rex found just outside of the small ranching community of Faith, near the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation.  Have you had the chance to meet Sue the T-rex?

Sue, who inhabited the Black Hills some 67 million years ago, was named after the fossil hunter responsible for her discovery, Sue Hendrickson.  Hendrickson discovered Sue in 1990 while part of commercial fossil collecting team from the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research.  To date, Sue — the fossil — is the largest, most complete and best preserved skeleton of a T-Rex ever found.

After Sue’s discovery, dispute arose over who exactly had the rights of ownership to the fossil.  After five years of debate, the courts decided that Sue was the property of the rancher whose land had been the discovery site of the dinosaur.  The rancher then sold the remains of the beast at an auction, which led to Sue’s new home:  The Field Museum in Chicago.  (In case you’re wondering, Sue went for 8.4 million dollars!).

Sue definitely has not kept to herself since her relocation.  The T-Rex is internationally renowned.  Some of the dinosaurs’ traveling exhibits, known as “A T.Rex Named Sue,” have included sites in Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, California, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, and the list goes on.

If you want to learn more about one of the Black Hills oldest, and largest residents, take a look at the Field Museum Website.  They’ve compiled quite a large amount of info about her history and discovery.  Also, you might want to check out the city of Faith.  The little city has quite a bit to offer, like the Faith Stock Show and Rodeo.

The next time you’re traveling through the Black Hills, keep in mind that some of the smallest locations might house some the biggest discoveries:  Gold, mammoths, and even a Tyrannosaurus rex!