On South Confederate Avenue, a stone bridge over Plum Run, finished in 1890 to allow visitors access to Big Round Top and onward to Little Round Top, demonstrates that the Gettysburg area’s history predates humanity — it features footprints of two different species of dinosaurs from the Triassic Period (250-200 million years ago). The two species are Anchisauripus, a medium-sized carnivore that walked on two legs, and the Atreipus, a smaller herbivore. The rock for this bridge was quarried in Adams County, north of Gettysburg near York Springs.
To visit the Dinosaur Bridge, travel down South Confederate Avenue (one-way, closed as of early 2024 for reconstruction of Little Round Top). Park near the statue to William Wells and walk forward a short distance to the bridge. The larger Anchisauripus print is found on the top of the sixth stone block to the right (or east) part of the bridge. It points toward the woods. The Atreipus print is located on the western (or left) side of the bridge. The print is at the far end of the bridge on the fifth block from the end. The prints are raised and claw-like.
