Prehistoric Gardens, on Oregon’s Highway 101 near Port Orford, opened in 1955 as a roadside attraction that placed life-sized dinosaur sculptures in the dense coastal temperate rainforest. Founded by E.V. “Ernie” Nelson, an amateur paleontologist who left accounting to pursue a childhood fascination, the park reflected years of research, museum visits, and consultation with paleontologists. Nelson used steel frames, metal lath, and concrete to build anatomically informed figures, ultimately spending 30 years creating all 23 sculptures, including an 86-foot brachiosaurus. Still operated by his family, the site endures as both a classic American roadside stop and a deeply personal artistic project.