(a) The Capitalsaurus dinosaur was discovered in January 1898, at First and F Streets, S.E., in the District of Columbia by workmen during a sewer connection project, and is the only known specimen of its kind in the world.
(b) The Capitalsaurus was a large meat eating reptile which may be an ancestor of the T. (tyrannosaurus) rex.
(c) About 110 million years ago, the Capitalsaurus lived in the District of Columbia with many other dinosaurs including herbivores.
(d) During the lifetime of the Capitalsaurus, the District of Columbia resembled the bayou country of southern Louisiana.
(e) The Capitalsaurus fossil discovered in 1898 is now at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in the type room.
(f) The Capitalsaurus is unique to the District of Columbia because its fossil remains have not been discovered anywhere else in the world.
(g) The vertebra of the dinosaur was given to the Smithsonian Institution as a gift by J.K. Murphy on January 28, 1898, and was recorded as accession number 33153 and specimen number NMNH 3049.
(h) District of Columbia Public School students have been studying the Capitalsaurus and many other dinosaurs from this area for years.
(i) The students have also helped to dig up dinosaurs fossils which are now part of the Smithsonian's permanent collection.
(j) The Capitalsaurus shall be the official Dinosaur of the District of Columbia.
CREDIT(S)
(Sept. 30, 1998, D.C. Law 12-155, § 2, 45 DCR 4476; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-264, § 2, 46 DCR 2118; Oct. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 13-41, § 4, 46 DCR 6552; Apr. 12, 2000, D.C. Law 13-91, § 102, 47 DCR 520.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 1-131.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 13-41, in subsec. (g), substituted “specimen NMNH 3049” for “specimen NMNH 3409”.
D.C. Law 13-91, in subsec. (g), inserted “number” preceding “NMNH”.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 12-155, the “Official Dinosaur Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-538, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on May 5, 1998, and June 2, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 10, 1998, it was assigned Act No. 12-382 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-155 became effective on September 30, 1998.
Law 12-264, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-804, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 10, 1998 and December 1, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 7, 1999, it was assigned Act No. 12-626 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-264 became effective on April 20, 1999.
Law 13-41, the “Designation of Capitalsaurus Court and Technical Correction Amendment Act of 1999,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 13-170, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 1, 1999, and July 6, 1999, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 19, 1999, it was assigned Act No. 13-114 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 13-41 became effective on October 20, 1999.
Law 13-91, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1999,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 13-435, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 2, 1999, and December 7, 1999, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 29, 1999, it was assigned Act No. 13-234 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 13-91 became effective on April 12, 2000.