The visiting exhibition of “Scotty”, the Tyrannosaurus rex, at the Soo Line Historical Museum has helped out the host by boosting visitors’ numbers in the last part of summer.

The numbers nearly tripled for the period from Aug. 10 to 21, compared to the same time a year ago, said manager Joan Gregory.

“The attendance really has improved, especially with Weyburn people coming,” she said. Out-of-town visitors have also seen it, but usually they haven’t heard that the exhibition is here and are surprised to find it.

“There’s a lady who comes here from Regina, and she just loves it here. She can’t believe there aren’t more from Weyburn coming out,” said Gregory.

Some of the comments left by museum patrons include “very impressive”, “very informative”, “love it!” and “awesome”.

Gregory pointed out that the kids in particular say the dinosaur exhibit, on loan from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum until the end of November, is “awesome”, and they love the free materials that are available for visitors to take.

The Soo Line Museum will be open during the Labour Day weekend from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, but after Labour Day the hours change to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will be closed on weekends, mainly because the summer student worker will be done as of this weekend. If a group wants to tour the museum on a weekend, board members will come out and provide the tour, as long as they are informed ahead of time.

Coming up as a fundraiser for the museum will be a fundraiser supper at the Legion on Friday, Oct. 15, with a social at 6 and a roast beef supper at 7, with a silent auction available. Entertainment will be provided by Weyburn’s Chelsea Woodard, Donna Sanders, and the True Jive Pluckers from Regina.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $50 each, or for a corporate table of eight, the cost is $350.