Charles Hazelius Sternberg

Charles Hazelius Sternberg, born on June fifteenth, eighteen fifty, was a prominent American paleontologist and botanical collector whose contributions to the field of paleontology are still celebrated today. His career spanned from eighteen seventy-six to nineteen twenty-eight, during which he collected fossils for renowned figures such as Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel C. Marsh, as well as for prestigious institutions including the British Museum and the San Diego Natural History Museum.

The legacy of the Sternberg family is deeply intertwined with the history of paleontology. As the patriarch, Charles Hazelius inspired his three sons—George F. Sternberg, Charles Mortram Sternberg, and Levi Sternberg—to follow in his footsteps as professional fossil collectors. Together, they made significant discoveries that advanced the understanding of prehistoric life.

One of the most remarkable achievements of the Sternberg family occurred in nineteen oh eight when they unearthed an extraordinary duckbill dinosaur mummy in the Lance Formation of eastern Wyoming. This groundbreaking find marked the first instance of such a fossil being discovered, and after a competitive bidding process, it was sold to the American Museum of Natural History, further solidifying the Sternbergs' place in paleontological history.