Mapelli's Gift to Weld County

The fossil in the display case at the county administration building.

On September 10th, 1986, the Board of Weld County Commissioners accepted by resolution perhaps the most unique donation any county government has ever been gifted - a 60+ million-year-old fossil. The Triceratops skull, the first found in the state of Colorado, made news across the country. Mr. and Mrs. Roland Mapelli donated the fossil to the county with one condition - that it be display for the public in a county facility. For 32 years, the fossil (named Pops by county employees) has greeted visitors to the county administration building. 

Through a partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Pops will take a brief trip to Denver where he will be cleaned, restored and studied - for the first time. Pops will be back on display at the Weld County Administration Building in late 2021, for future generations to enjoy.

We thank the Mapelli family not only for this wonderful gift but also for their desire to share this gift with the residents of Weld County. Now, through this project, we are excited to continue sharing the gift of Pops with the world!

Resolution

The county accepted the Mapelli donation via resolution, per county policy. View the original resolution accepting donation.(PDF, 82KB) For those using assistive technology, the resolution is written below.

RESOLUTION

RE: ACCEPT DONATION OF TRICERATOPS FOSSIL HEAD FROM MR. AND MRS. ROLAND MAPELLI AND FAMILY, AND AUTHORIZE DISPLAY IN THE CENTENNIAL COMPLEX.

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has designated the triceratops the official Weld County fossil, and

WHEREAS, an actual fossil has been discovered in Weld County near Briggsdale on property owned by Mr. and Mrs. Roland C. Mapelli and family, and

WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Mapelli and family have had the head of the fossil restored and wish to donate it to Weld County, with the condition that it be displayed for the public in a County facility, and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of Weld County to accept all donations by Resolution.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, hereby accepts the donation of a triceratops fossil head from Mr. and Mrs. Roland Mapelli and family and authorizes its display in the Centennial Complex.

The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 10th day of September, A.D., 1986.

Signed by the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO

Jacqueline Johnson, Chairman
Gordon E. Lacy, Pro-Tem
Gene R. Brantner
C.W. Kirby
Frank Yamaguchi

Attest: Mary Ann Feuerstein, Weld County Clerk and Recorder and Clerk to the Board
By: Tommie Antuna, Deputy County Clerk

Approved as to Form: Thomas David, County Attorney