The fossilized remains of prehistoric creatures are often difficult to remove from the rock that encloses them, and the bones are generally fragile once removed. In most cases, larger specimens need some protective covering in order to be transported from the collection site. Not doing so can result in the specimens being shattered and scattered. Historical developments in collecting, preserving and transporting techniques for newly discovered fossils are discussed here, including two important early Kansas discoveries of type specimens: Elasmosaurus platyurus in 1867 and Protostega gigas in 1871.