Start Your DIY Dinosaur Collection!
Above: An ammonite pocket fossil, a perfect collection starter!
Post Author - Ellis Nolan
So you want to start collecting dinosaurs!? You’re in the right place! Fossil collecting is a fun hobby and a great way to learn more about the history of our planet. After all, what’s better than being able to touch the real thing?! Here’s a quick start guide on how to begin building your dinosaur fossil collection!
1. It's Always Okay to Start Small
Above: Amber is a great first fossil to start a collection
When you’re first getting into a hobby, it’s important to not jump in too deep too fast. Rare fossils in good condition can fetch hefty price tags, and as a beginner it’s hard to know when you’re being taken for a ride. Thus, it’s best to start with something that sparks your imagination but won’t set fire to your pocketbook. Our affordable add-ons and pocket fossils can be a great first choice for starting out a fossil collection!
2. Collect What is Interesting to You!
Above: A fossilized brittle star with scientific drawings
In the age of the internet, there’s a milieu of information available about almost everything one could collect, and so it’s easy to get stranded in a sea of opinions. Ask yourself, “what originally got me into this hobby” For fossils, a great starting point is your favorite dinosaur, one that inspired you in a movie or documentary, or one you’ve read about. Collectors online might argue about which specimen is most likely to go up in value, or which is more rare, but really, what’s most important is that what you’re collecting fills you with a sense of awe and inspiration.
3. Talk to Other Collectors
Above: The Tucson Gem Show, a preeminent fossil trade show
The best part of being a collector is community! Talking to other people passionate about fossils can be one of the most rewarding experiences in the hobby; you can learn more about new research, preservation techniques, and stories about how other hobbyists started collecting! Many resources are available online to meet other enthusiasts, such as Facebook groups, events on Meetup, and archaeological conventions.
Starting a fossil collection can be daunting, but it is also extremely rewarding in many different aspects. We’d love to be part of your collecting journey! If Mini Museum makes it into your collection, tag us on social media with @minimuseumshop!
Ready to start your collection? Visit our dinosaurs page here!
Featured Product
Space Exposed Tomato Seeds
Latest News
-
Aug 21, 2025 Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans! Read More -
Aug 19, 2025 Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy Read More -
Aug 14, 2025 Learn About Iron Age Mummy Tattoos! Read More -
Jul 29, 2025 Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite! Read More -
Jul 23, 2025 The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland Read More -
Jul 20, 2025 Denver Museum Finds Dinosaurs in their Backyard! Read More
Cool Things!
Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans!
In studying early human ancestors, known as “hominids,” anthropologists have historically found much wider variations from specimen to specimen than expected, particularly among other paleontological fields. A recent study argues that certain groups of hominid fossils previously thought to be an already discovered species constitute a new one entirely.
Learn About Iron Age Mummy Tattoos!
Tattoos have been a popular form of individual and societal expression for centuries around the world, making them a focal point of study for anthropologists and archaeologists. Unfortunately, the oldest examples are rarely preserved well enough for deep study, since skin usually decomposes before fossilization. In one recent case, however, new technology allowed researchers to draw new conclusions about the tattoos of one fascinating specimen: a well-preserved mummy.
Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite!
It’s well known among archaeologists that the ancient Romans had a reverence for fossils. For example, it is thought they believed mammoth bones and teeth were those of dragons and cyclopes, and thus, these items were often displayed in places of power. However, researchers in Spain recently uncovered an exceedingly rare Roman fossil artifact from an unlikely place.
Specimen Deep Dives
Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy
The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland
Building Disneyland
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!