National Velociraptor Awareness Day Timeline

2019

Playing politics

Republican Senator Mike Lee, on the Senate floor, displayed a picture of President Reagan firing a machine gun while riding on the back of a velociraptor to mock the Green New Deal.

1995

Raptors invade Toronto

The NBA's expansion Toronto Raptors began play with a 94-79 win over New Jersey. The team, along with the (former) Vancouver Grizzlies, marked the league's first foray into Canada since 1947. The monstrous success of 1993's "Jurassic Park" inspired the team name.

1990

Michael Crichton wrote "Jurassic Park"

Velociraptors got the star treatment thanks to their portrayal in the novel — later adapted into the "Jurassic Park" movie franchise.

1923

First velociraptor fossil found

Peter Kaisen recovered the first velociraptor fossil: a crushed but complete skull, along with one of the second-toe claws.