Goober has sold the property his gas station was located on outside of Mayberry and relocated in town. In digging a hole to dump oil, Goober shows Howard large bones he's been finding. Howard believes they are dinosaur bones and says it could be "one of the greatest archeological finds in the state of North Carolina". Howard goes to the Raleigh Museum's natural history department to research it. Dr. Wallace (Roy Glenn, " Guess Who's Coming to Dinner") says it indeed is a dinosaur skull. Howard volunteers to donate it to the museum, but they already have a display of one. Dr. Wallace suggests displaying it in Mayberry and if they uncover the entire skeleton it would be a major discovery. The search drives Howard who plans to open a museum of science in Mayberry and be a cultural renaissance for the town. Goober firmly rebuffs Howard's attempt to have him shut down his business by digging up the driveway for two weeks to excavate. Howard calls for a special meeting of the Mayberry Development Committee. Howard refuses to settle for Sam's reasoning that they can't force anything on private property. Howard sneaks in the middle of the night to dig up Goober's property. Goober, the deputy sheriff, catches him puts him in jail. Sam makes Goober release Howard and admonishes Howard. Howard doesn't let up, however, and starts digging up the city street where the tail should be. Howard finally opens the Mayberry Science Museum. The center attraction is comically the dinosaur skeleton with a missing midsection. Disappointment from touring school groups may lead to different discoveries.
The plot is certainly a reach and Howard comes off as unlikable here. It's out of character as well. He can get fired up, but usually is always guided by reason more than anyone else. Maybe this is a continuation of the new outlook he gained in the previous episode.