National Fossil Day 2018: Events UPDATED 10/9/18 FINAL UPDATE
UPDATED 10/9/18: This is the last post to announce events associated with National Fossil Day! We are no longer accepted entries, but if you have an event to promote, tweet us @PLOSPaleo, and we will retweet it to spread the word!
PLOS Paleontology Community is happy to highlight upcoming events associated with National Fossil Day (October 17, 2018). Many of these events are hosted by U.S. museums, institutions, and schools in order to highlight and celebrate fossils and fossil resources in the United States.
Below is a list of several of the events that we know about so far, and will continue to announce events list as we hear about them. The events are arranged by location, and not all of these events are happening on October 17, so be sure to check the date and institution’s individual websites for hours, admission, and location. Info for the events below will be updated as necessary. Find a local event near you and celebrate the United States’ fossil heritage with fun activities and volunteer opportunities!
Alabama
- Alabama Museum of Natural History, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- Join us in a celebration of all things fossil during this National Parks Service established day of fossil appreciation and stewardship.
- 5:00-7:00 pm
- Free and fun for all ages.
- 6th Ave, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487
Arizona
- Grand Canyon National Park, Wednesday, October 17, 2018
- 9–10 am — Fossil Walk: Meet at Bright Angel Trailhead. Learn about Grand Canyon’s ancient life through its fossil history. This easy walk along the Rim Trail explores the marine fossils of an ancient Permian Sea.(60 mins)
- 11 am–2 pm — Fun with Fossils! Discover why fossils are important! Fun fossil games and activities for kids of all ages! Come and Go outside at Yavapai Geology Museum
- 1–2 pm — Ask a Scientist! How do fossils form? What is a Trace Fossil? Meet some of the Grand Canyon’s Scientists and ask your question! Meet outside at Yavapai Geology Museum
- 7:30–8:30 pm Paleontology at Grand Canyon Evening Program: Special National Fossil Day Presentation. What is Paleontology? What fossils are found at Grand Canyon? Why are they important? What scientific research is currently happening in the park? Meet at the Shrine of the Ages
- Contact: Ronnie Colvin, Interpretive Park Ranger, Grand Canyon National Park
817-798-7941
- Museum of Northern Arizona, October 13, 2018
- Digging Dinosaurs: Celebrate National Fossil Day at MNA! Join Paleontologist Christa Sadler to touch fossils, handle tools and hear how paleontologists find, excavate, remove and prepare dinosaur bones.
- 2:00 pm–close
- 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- Contact: JGlennon@musnaz.org
- Petrified Forest National Park, October 10, 2018
- Come out to Petrified Forest National Park to celebrate National Fossil Day in our unique Triassic style! Activities include watching fossil preparation, touring museum collections, creating your own plaster fossil cast, and chatting about all things fossils with our staff paleontologists.
- Demo Lab at Painted Desert Visitor Center
- Fossil preparation demonstration lab: 9:00 am–3:00 pm
- Create-a-fossil plaster casting: 9:00 am–3:00 pm
- Painted Desert Visitor Center
- Lab and collections tours: 11:00 am & 2:00 pm
- Rainbow Forest Museum
- Meet a paleontologist: 1:30 pm–3:30 pm
- Contact: Adam Marsh, lead paleontologist.
- Demo Lab at Painted Desert Visitor Center
- Come out to Petrified Forest National Park to celebrate National Fossil Day in our unique Triassic style! Activities include watching fossil preparation, touring museum collections, creating your own plaster fossil cast, and chatting about all things fossils with our staff paleontologists.
California
- Joshua Tree National Park, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- National Park Service
- Activity will be a chat about Pleistocene fossils and environment with fossil props and a mural, and the opportunity to become a Junior Paleontologist with an activity book and badge
- Event will be held at the Visitor Center at Joshua Tree National Park
- Contact: Marker Marshall: w: (760) 367-5534, c: (760) 808-5399, marker_marshall@nps.gov
- Los Angeles Comic Con, October 27th, 2018
- The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, The Western Science Center, and Cosplay for Science
- Dinosaurs invade Los Angeles Comic Con. Join our paleontologists as they show you amazing fossils from their museums and talk about how these fossils helped to inspire some of our favorite monsters in movies, games, and comics.
- 10:00 am–6:00 pm
- Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
- Western Science Center, November 3rd, 2018
- The Science of Fossils: Celebrate both National Fossil Day and National Bison Day with an up close look at the bison that roamed our valley during the Ice Ages. Explore fossils and discover how paleontologists learn about the past with the Western Science Center and our friends from the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology. Take a closer look at what teeth can tell us, learn about new discoveries, and talk to a paleontologist!
- 10:30 am–1: 00 pm
- Western Science Center 2345 Searl Parkway, Hemet, CA 92543, US
- Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, October 20th, 2018
- Join the museum as we celebrate the paleontological history of the United States for National Fossil Day!
- More details coming soon!
- 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
- 1175 West Baseline Road, Claremont, CA 91711-2199
- Contact: Telephone: (909) 624-2798
- San Diego Natural History Museum, Wednesday, October 10, 2018
- Fossil Day Celebration
- Join The Nat’s paleontologists for a celebration of all things prehistoric. National Fossil Day is Wednesday, October 17, but we’re celebrating one week early with some show-and-tell and mini-tours. Touch fossils from our ancient past and meet the creatures that thrived 100 million years ago, (including a mosasaur!). At 11:30, 12:30, or 1:30, jump on a 30-minute, behind-the-scenes tour of our fossil collections and the Paleontology Lab, where museum scientists and volunteers prepare fossils for study.
- 11 AM – 2 PM
- The Atrium of The Nat
- Contact: Emma Bloom, public programs manager: 619-255-0177; ebloom@sdnhm.org
Colorado
- Colorado University Museum of Natural History, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- Trilobites!
- We’ll be outside the north entrance to the museum with our chocolate fondue pot so you can design your own trilobite cookie. Explore real trilobite fossils and other trilobite activities. Join us for a bite of fun in the middle of your day and after school!
- 11:00 am–5:00 pm
- CU Museum, Henderson Building on the CU-Boulder Campus, 1030 Broadway, Boulder, CO
- Contact: museumed@colorado.edu, 303-492-1666
- Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center, October 13, 2018
- Girl Scout/National Fossil Day
- Friends of Dinosaur Ridge
- Come celebrate National Fossil Day with Dinosaur Ridge! Girl Scouts can register to earn requirements for badges of all levels.
- 9:00 am–3:00 pm
- Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center: 16831 W Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO 80465
- Contact: Erin LaCount
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, October 14th, 2018
- National Fossil Day at Florissant Fossil Beds
- Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds
- A day of fossil discovery including, story time, fossil crafts, and a scavenger hunt. Jr. Paleontologist books available to earn a badge
- 10:00 am–3:00 pm
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant, CO
- Contact: karleen_mays@partner.nps.gov
- Garden of the Gods, Saturday, October 13th, 2018
- Fossil Day Celebration
- City of Colorado Springs and Western Interior Paleontological Society (WIPS)
- Free family fun day with partners hosting educational tables, fossil identification, lots of hands on demos, fossils and natural history giveaways, free public lectures.
- 10:00 am–3:00 pm
- Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, 1805 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs, CO 80904
- Contact: Bret Tennis, Parks Operations Administrator, 719-219-0108
- National Conservation Areas National Fossil Day hikes, Wednesday, October 10th, 2018
- Colorado Canyons Association
- Hikes to fossil sites in the the three Colorado National Conservation Areas
- Starting time- 5:30 PM
- Three separate trailheads – see website or contact rob@canyonsassociation.org for more details
- Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, Friday, October 19th, 2018
- Steve Jorgensen on Ammonites of the Pierre Shale
- Steve will talk about the injuries and predation on Menuites Oralensis found in the Pierre Shale in Canon City, and other localities. He will discuss many of the other ammonites in the same bio stratigraphic zones in the Pierre Shale. $8 pre-register, $10 at the door. Register to pam@dinoxp.com by 10/15
- 2:00 pm
- Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, 44895 W Highway 50, Canon City, CO 81212
- Contact: 719-275-2726, pam@dinoxp.com
- Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center, Saturday, October 20th, 2018
- Fossil Excavation Demonstration
- Paleontologist Andrew Smith will give a demonstration for all ages on how paleontologists conduct field work to safely excavate and prepare fossils. This is a free event!
- 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
- Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center, 612 Royal Gorge Blvd., Cañon City, CO 81212
- Contact: 719-269-9036
Connecticut
- EverWonder Children’s Museum
- EverWonder about Fossils? Come by on National Fossil Day to create your own fossil and explore other fossil activities! Available while supplies last!
- Thursday at 9 AM – 4 PM
- EverWonder Children’s Museum, 31 Pecks Ln, Newtown, Connecticut 06470
District of Columbia
- National Mall in Washington D.C., October 3rd, 2018
- The National Mall National Fossil Day EventNational Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, American Geosciences Institute, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, George Washington University, University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, M-NCPPC Dinosaur Park, and Virtual Worlds of Learning.Come enjoy a National Fossil Day celebration experience at the National Mall where nine National Fossil Day Partners will be hosting activities and exhibits.Partner activities include:
- National Park Service– Be sworn in as a Junior Paleontologist and receive your official junior paleontologist badge by completing our Junior Paleontologist workbook. Learn about fossils at our national parks with fossil demonstrations and additional handouts.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History– Come sift through Miocene marine sediments to discover your very own shark tooth on the National Mall and then explore our exhibits inside the National Museum of Natural History where volunteers and docents will have more paleontological interactions in our The Last American Dinosaurs exhibit.
- American Geosciences Institute– Come visit the interactive photo-booth where you can your picture taken at famous fossil sites, and with fossils and other prehistoric creatures.
- Franklin County High School / Virtual Worlds of Learning– Experience a 3D virtual fossil K-12 educational expedition at the Grand Canyon created by our first National Fossil Day high school partner and Virtual Worlds of Learning.
- Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission Dinosaur Park– Learn about the fossils of dinosaurs and other creatures found just outside of Washington DC, including Maryland’s state dinosaur: the giant Astrodon johnstoni!
- Calvert Marine Museum– See amazing shark teeth and other fossils collected from the Chesapeake Bay Region.
- Bureau of Land Management and United States Forest Service: See fossils from our federal lands and learn how they are cared for and studied for future generations.
- George Washington University, University of Maryland, and Virginia Tech: Meet university paleontologist from the DC area and Virginia as they share their research projects from around the world.
- Society of Vertebrate Paleontology– Learn about this professional network of paleontologist and its commitment to the research at federal and state lands and the protection of public fossil resources.
- 10:00 am–2:00 pm
- The National Mall event for National Fossil Day will be set up on the pathway between the Smithsonian Castle and the National Museum of Natural History which is between Madison Dr. NW and Jefferson D. SW.
- Contact
- The National Mall National Fossil Day EventNational Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, American Geosciences Institute, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, George Washington University, University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, M-NCPPC Dinosaur Park, and Virtual Worlds of Learning.Come enjoy a National Fossil Day celebration experience at the National Mall where nine National Fossil Day Partners will be hosting activities and exhibits.Partner activities include:
Florida
- Archaeology For Autism, Saturday, October 20th, 2018
- 5th Annual Archaeologists for Autism
- The Archaeologists for Autism mission is to unlock the potential of children and young adults with developmental disabilities. We aim to provide children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders and their families a chance to experience archaeology (and paleontology) in a fun, low stress environment. Our event includes fossil displays as well as a fossil “excavation pit”
- 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Historic Sams House at the Pine Island Conservation Area, 6295 North Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, Florida
- Contact: Tom Penders, 321-707-0075, Nell Penders 321-307-1314, email:arch4autism@gmail.com
- Florida Museum of Natural History, September 29th, 2018
- Permian Monsters Exhibit Opening and National Fossil Day Celebration
- Join the Museum for a fun-for-all-ages celebration of its newest featured exhibit, Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs and explore the world before dinosaurs roamed the earth. Meet paleontologists and geologists who work every day to uncover the secrets these ancient remains reveal about past life on Earth. Enjoy this FREE, fun-for-all-ages event with hands-on activities, fossil displays and a dig pit. Bring your objects for identification and talk to members of Florida fossil clubs to learn what fossils can be found around the state!
- 10:00 am–3:00 pm
- Florida Museum of Natural History, Powell Hall, 3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL
- Contact: Catherine Carey, 352-273-2064
Georgia
- Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- National Fossil Day: Tadpole Tales
- In celebration of National Fossil Day, preschoolers are invited to enjoy a story and special activity with a Fernbank educator featuring Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Barton.
- 11:30 AM to 11:50 PM
- 767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30307, United States
- Contact: 404-929-6300, marketing@fernbankmuseum.org
- Ocumulgee National Monument, October 6, 2018
- National Park Service
- National Fossil Day is an annual celebration held to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. The official National Fossil Day for 2018 is on October 17th, but we are celebrating a little early on October 6th!
- Join us in the Visitor Center rotunda to see fossils from 10am to 3pm!
- 1207 Emery Hwy, Macon, GA 31217
- Contact: Phone: (478) 752-8257 x222
- William P. Wall Museum of Natural History at Georgia College, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- National Fossil Day ID and Presentation
- Do you have old bones or fossils that you’ve been wondering about? We can help. This event includes a presentation on Fossil Snakes of Georgia by paleoherpetologist, Dr. Dennis Parmley. Free event.
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- 221 N. Wilkinson Street (530.13 mi), Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
Idaho
- Idaho Museum of Natural History, October 17, 2018
- National Fossil Day at the Idaho Museum of Natural History
- Family Fossil Sorting- Come help the museum sort through material containing fossils. You will learn how scientists sift through fossil containing material to find fossils by actually doing it. After you find the bones, scientists will be on hand to help you identify and classify the material. We will then add it to our collection. This activity is for citizen scientists ages 8 through adult.
- 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Idaho Museum of Natural History-Discovery Room, 698 Dillon Street, Pocatello, Idaho 83209
- Contact: Virginia Jones-208-282-2195 jonevir2@isu.edu
Illinois
- Burpee Museum of Natural History, Saturday, October 6th, 2018
- Burpee Museum’s National Fossil Day 2018
- Programs Include: Local Fossil Collectors & Exhibitors Hands On Fossil Activities Screening for Microvertebrates Fossil ID’s (bring your fossils!) Jane’s REAL skull (a rare treat, hardly ever on display).
- 10:00 am–2:00 pm
- Burpee Museum of Natural History 737 north main street, Rockford, IL 61103
- Brandi Blaesing, 815-965-3433
- The Field Museum
- Take a special guided tour through the halls of the Field Museum and learn about the fascinating story of not only the fossils on display, but the people who unearthed them. This will be a unique tour developed specially to celebrate National Fossil Day.
- Tour times: 10:30, 12:30, 1:30, 3:30.
- Free with normal admission
Indiana
- Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Saturday, October 13, 2018
- Paleopalooza
- Attention dinosaur enthusiasts! Join us for hands-on dinosaur activities and a special performance of Bucky Lives!, our interactive dino show. Meet our Extraordinary Scientists-in-Residence, Dr. Victoria Egerton and Dr. Phil Manning. Chat with cowboy Bucky Derflinger, the namesake and discoverer of our famous dinosaur. Take a photo at our immersive T. rex photo op, featuring a life-like sculpture by paleo artist Brian Cooley.
- 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208
- Contact: 317-334-4000
- Falls of the Ohio State Park, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- Celebrate National Fossil Day at the Falls of the Ohio State Park.
- Free admission beginning at 5 PM, courtesy the Falls of the Ohio Foundation.
- Guest speaker – Dale Brown, Falls of the Ohio State Park, speaks from 7 to 8 PM on “The Birth of Paleontology” – learn about how and where the science of paleontology first took hold. Activities include fossil-related crafts – build a sea lily, weather rocks, design a Devonian ecosystem, hike the fossil beds, find fossils on the collecting piles, and more. Enjoy free refreshments with a fossil theme. Fossil-themed refreshments in the lobby Free admission!
- 5:00–8:00 pm
- 201 W Riverside Dr, Clarksville, Indiana 47129
Kansas
- Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Sunday, October 14th, 2018
- National Fossil Day 2018
- Join us on Sunday, October 14th for our National Fossil Day celebration as we explore this year’s theme “The Age of Reptiles: Not Just Dinosaurs”. We will dive into the ocean ecosystems that thrived in Kansas while dinosaurs ruled the land. Admission to the Museum will be FREE all day and with activities for all ages!
- 1:00 PM- 5:00 PM
- Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Dr, Hays, Kansas 67601
Maine
- L.C. Bates Museum, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- Fascinating Fossils
- Have fun exploring fossils from the museum collections and learn about plant, animal and track fossils.
- Do a fossil scavenger hunt, touch some dino bone fossils, make a fossil mold and more.
- 3:00 pm–4:00 pm
- L. C. Bates Museum, 14 Easler Road, Hinckley, ME 04944
- Contact Information: 207-238-4250, lcbates@gwh.org
Maryland
- Calvert Marine Museum, Friday, October 19, 2018
- Be a paleontologist for the day! Ongoing activities include: digging for “dinosaur bones” in the Discovery Room sandbox, a scavenger hunt filled with fun dinosaur facts that ends with participants cracking a dinosaur egg, and making a dino hat. Scheduled activities at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. include: excavating real fossils from matrix, singing special dinosaur songs and learning the dinosaur stomp dance. Activities appropriate for ages 4-10.
- FREE with museum admission.
- 10 AM – 4 PM
- Facebook: Calvert Marine Museum
- 14200 Solomons Island Rd S, Solomons, Maryland 20688
Massachusetts
- Oak Bluffs Library, Thursday, October 18th, 2018
- Martha’s Vineyard Environmental Alliance
- Presenters will display materials and share knowledge include geological oceanographer Dr. Maurice Tivey of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI); educators Betsy Dripps and Kendra Buresch of The Polly Hill Arboretum; Dr. Ann McNichol, senior research specialist at the National Ocean Sciences radiocarbon dating facility at WHOI; paleontologist Jessica Cundiff and zoologists Joe Martinez, Erich Dieffenbach, and Scott Smyers of the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology; undersea divers and collectors Heidi Raihofer and Joe Leonardo; tenth and eighth grade collectors Jacob and Sam Gurney; archaeologist, author, and collector Bill Moody; marine ecologist Wendy Culbert, ornithologist Robert Culbert, student Anne Culbert; paleobiologist Fred Hotchkiss, and others.
- National Fossil Day at the Oak Bluffs Library is partially supported by a grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
- 4:00 pm–7:45 pm
Michigan
- Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, Sunday, October 14, 2018
- We are celebrating with an amazing display of fossils from Fernwood’s collection and that of staff member, Ralph Reitz. Fossilized ferns, fish, shells, wood, and even dinosaur scat are available for you to enjoy.
- Fossils Nature Station
- Free with admission.
- Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve
- 13988 Range Line Rd, Niles, Michigan 49120
- Michigan State University, October 14, 2018
- In partnership with Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association (MESTA), brought to you by Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), the MSU Museum celebrates National Fossil Day on Sunday, October 14, 2018, 1:00–4:00 pm, an afternoon of fossil fun!
- Michigan fossil dig & sift
- Junior Paleontologist hunt
- Fossil molds to make and take
- Face painting
- “Ask the Expert”: a paleontologist will be on hand to answer your fossil questions and to identify specimens
- Fossil puzzle station
- Fossil ID competition with prizes
- Special opportunity: A “fossils only” version of MESTA’s famous Rock Shop will be set up for educators to acquire invertebrate fossils for study in the classroom or at home.
- MSU Museum, 409 West Circle Drive, East Lansing. MI 48824
- Contact: Nick VanAcker, 517-432-1472
- In partnership with Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association (MESTA), brought to you by Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), the MSU Museum celebrates National Fossil Day on Sunday, October 14, 2018, 1:00–4:00 pm, an afternoon of fossil fun!
Minnesota
- The Science Museum of Minnesota, Saturday, October 13
- The Science Museum of Minnesota will be celebrating National Fossil Day on Saturday, October 13th with various extra fossil-related stations set up throughout the museum from Noon to 4pm. Visitors can discover the museum’s world class fossils – both favorites and rarely-seen specimens – and meet Dr. Alex Hastings, the museum’s new Fitzpatrick Chair of Paleontology!
- Dr. Alex Hastings will introduce himself on the Atrium Stage at 10 a.m., followed by a meet and greet with dinosaur lovers of all ages. Then from noon to 4 p.m., try your hand at make-and-take activities that explore the fascinating things that fossils can tell us.
Mississippi
- Dunn-Seiler Museum, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- Fossil Extravaganza and Fossil Art & Story Contest
- Dunn-Seiler Museum, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University
- Open House at the Dunn-Seiler, with tours, family activities, free fossils, and refreshments
- 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
- Dunn-Seiler Museum, 355 Lee, Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Contact: rclary@geosci.msstate.edu
- Fossil Art & Story Contest Information
- Creative competition to recreate a Mesozoic reptile that lived in Mississippi OR write a creative story featuring a Mesozoic reptile
- Winners to be announced and displayed at the Dunn-Seiler Museum for National Fossil Day
- Contact Museum Director, Dr. Renee Clary (rclary@geosci.msstate.edu), for entry or questions.
- Fossil Art & Story contest for Mississippi’s K-12 students
- Fossil Extravaganza and Fossil Art & Story Contest
Missouri
- Bollinger County Museum of Natural History, Saturday, October 13th, 2018
- National Fossil Day Celebration
- Celebrate National Fossil Day at the Bollinger County Museum of Natural History in Marble Hill, Missouri on Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 12:00 (noon) to 4:00 p.m.
- Bring your fossils, finds, rocks, and artifacts for identification by our experts from 1:00-4:00P.M.
- Enjoy a Native American tools display from 1:00PM to 4:00PM.
- Try your hand at different types of primitive skills while you explore the world of ancient cultures.
- Our museum pays honor to the Missouri Dinosaur, Hypsibema missouriensis, in our Missouri Dinosaur Discovery exhibit. Exploring fossils and ancient life forms helps us understand the history of life, past climates, and ancient landscapes. We invite you to explore Missouri’s rich fossil record with us.
- Fun activities include: Museum Fossil Scavenger Hunt, children’s fossil “dig”, children’s dinosaur “dig”, and other fossil related activities.
- Free Missouri fossil prizes for completing fossil scavenger hunt.
- All activities are free with your paid museum admission.
- Museum Admission: Adults $5 each and 17 years and under $2 each
- 12:00 pm–4:00 pm
- For more information email: bcmnh@sbcglobal.net or phone: 573-238-1174.
Montana
- Carter County Museum, Thursday, October 11
- Montana Dinosaur Trail
- Paleo-themed activities include “making your own amber,” micro-site identification and sorting, fossil cast painting and more during regular museum hours
- 9 AM – 5 PM MDT
- Carter County Museum, 306 Main St N, Ekalaka, Montana 59324
- Makoshika State Park, Saturday, October 13
- Montana Dinosaur Trail
- Join us for the first annual National Fossil Day event at Makoshika State Park. Park staff and our local paleontology partners, Baisch’s Montana Dinosaur Digs, LLC and Frontier Gateway Museum will present fun activities and games from 1pm to 3pm. As part of the event, the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum will also have a discounted entrance fee that day of $5.00.
- Attendees should dress appropriately for weather. For more information, call the park visitor center at (406) 377-6256.
- 1 PM – 3 PM MDT
- Makoshika State Park, Glendive, Montana 59330
- Contact: makoshika@mt.gov
- Museum of the Rockies, October 17th, 2018
- Celebrate National Fossil Day with Museum of the Rockies (MOR), the Children’s Museum of Bozeman (CMB), and the Bozeman Public Library (BPL) with dinosaur-themed activities all day long at all three locations.
- 10:00–11:00 am at MOR for Sensational Babies featuring a dinosaur dig and dinosaur-themed stories
- 10:15 & 11:15 am at BPL for Little Ones Storytime featuring dinosaur and fossil stories
- 12:00–3:00 pm at CMB for Fossil activities at the Science Station and Maker Place with MOR’s Rocky Rex
- 2:00–3:00 pm at MOR for Tours for Tots: Bones!
- 3:30–5:00 pm at BPL for Meet MOR’s Rocky Rex and touch real fossils
- 5:00–7:00 pm at at CMB for Open lab in the STEAMlab with dinosaurs
- *National Fossil Day events are free at MOR and BPL and included with admission at CMB. Admission applies if you wish to access MOR’s main museum and exhibits.
- 10:00 am–7:00 pm
- University of Montana Paleontology Center, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- National Fossil Day Celebration
- Celebrate National Fossil Day with the UM Paleontology Center (UMPC) for an open house! The UMPC will be open from 5-8pm for tours of the displays and the research collections, fossil identifications, kids activities and more.
- 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- C. H. Clapp Building, University of Montana, Missoula campus
- Kallie Moore, email preferred kallie.moore@mso.umt.edu or 406.243.5406
Nevada
- Las Vegas Natural History Museum, October 13th, 2018
- Celebrate National Fossil Day at the Museum! Join the Protectors of Tule Springs and the Las Vegas Natural History Museum as we celebrate fossil discovery in Southern Nevada.
- 10:00 am–3:00 pm
- Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd North, Las Vegas, NV 89101
- Contact: (702) 384–3466
- Lovelady Brewing, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- National Fossil Day
- Our favorite paleontologist, Josh, from whose findings in Nevada we named the Paleo Porter after, is going to be showing off fossils in the taproom to celebrate National Fossil Day!
- To top it off, all pints of Paleo Porter will be $4 and pitchers of Paleo will be $16!
- 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Lovelady Brewing, 20 S Water St, Henderson, Nevada 89015
New Jersey
- New Jersey State Museum, October 10th–October 13th, 2018
- Earth Science Week/ National Fossil Day
- Our paleontologists will be on hand from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, explaining this year’s theme, Paleozoic fish, and their special significance for New Jersey. Visitors will see the actual fossils of these strange animals of 400,000,000 years ago and learn how we find and study their bony skeletons. Explore New Jersey’s wonderful heritage of fossils, on display throughout the Natural History Hall, and feel free to ask our scientists any questions you may have about New Jersey natural history.
- 9:00 am–4:00 pm
- New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625
- Rutgers University Geology Museum, October 3, 2018
- Fossils and Dinosaurs Late Night
- Take a step back in time to discover the different types of dinosaurs and other creatures that inhabited Earth during the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras! Demonstrations, arts and crafts and educational activities will be set up around the museum and people are welcome to come and go as they please. The event is free and open to visitors of all ages!
- 4:00–8:00 pm
- Rutgers University Geology Museum, Geology Hall, 2nd Floor, 85 Somerset St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
- Contact: geologymuseum@sas.rutgers.edu
New Mexico
- Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory, October 12th and 13th, 2018
- National Fossil Day Celebration!
- Mesalands Community College
- In recognition of National Fossil Day, Mesalands Dinosaur Museum will offer free admission to all exhibits
- 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory 222 East Laughlin Tucumcari. NM 88401
- Contact: (575) 461-3466
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Wednesday ,October 17th, 2018
- National Fossil Day Celebration
- The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science will be hosting a National Fossil Day Celebration within its museum atrium. Hang out with T.rex as museum staff and volunteers, along with partners from the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, present activities, special fossil displays, and giveaways. Kids will be able to swear in as a Junior Paleontologist through the National Park Service when they complete their Junior Paleontologist handbook at the museum. The Bureau of Land Management and Prehistoric Trackways National Monument will show fossils from this fossil site. The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology will be presenting information on its professional netwrok of paleontologist and its commitment to research at federal and state lands and the protection of public fossil resources.
- The museum will also be having two special paleontology exhibits: Picturing the Past, a special juried exhibition of art inspired by paleontology and fossils; Back to Bones: New Mexico’s Link to the Past, an exhibit which will showcase fossil specimens rarely seen on exhibit.
- 10:00 am–2:00 pm
- Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science, October 13th, 2018
- Fossil Day at the Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science
- The Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District and Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (PTNM) are partnering with the Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science (MoNaS) and the New Mexico State University Department of Biology to celebrate National Fossil Day 2018. The MoNaS will be open to the public on Main Street during the popular downtown Farmer’s Market. Docents will be available to provide tours of the exhibits, which include BLM fossil specimens from Prehistoric Trackways National Monument and live reptiles from the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. Dr. Peter Houde, NMSU Biology Department, will also bring and discuss fossil specimens of more recent Plio-Pleistocene mammals found in the District. The BLM and MoNaS will set up touch stations for the public to examine both fossil casts and real ichnofossil trackway slabs, as well as a fossil craft station for the kids, and a Geology and Paleontology BLM Junior Ranger activity station.
- 9:00 am–12:00 pm
- Museum of Nature and Science, 411 North Main Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001
- Contact: Stephanie Hawkins, Education Curator/Quality of Life/Las Cruces Museum System, Direct: 575-532-3372 Main: 575-522-3120
- Colin Dunn, Bureau of Land Management, Monument Paleontologist/Geologist, 575-525-4454
- https://www.facebook.com/BLMLasCruces/
New York
- American Museum of Natural History, October 17th, 2018
- National Fossil Day: Drop-In Events for School Groups
- The School Groups Visits Program at American Museum of Natural History
- In celebration of National Fossil Day, this special event will help students understand how studying fossils teaches us about the history of life, past climates, and ancient landscapes. Activities explore fossil formation, extinction theories, fossil diversity and much more.
- 10:00 am–12:00 pm
- American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192
- Contact: 212-769-5100
- Museum of the Earth, Paleontological Research Institution, October 13, 2018
- FOSSIL MANIA
- This event is a fun and educational event with hands-on activities to help you explore and discover fossils in many ways. We have lots of cool late Cretaceous fossils to explore. From the life-sized Quetzelcoatlus that flew the skies to the strange heteromorph who lived in the oceans. Museum of the Earth has something for all to learn and experience.
- 10:00 am–1:00 pm
- Museum of the Earth- Ithaca, NY 14850
- Contact: 607-273-6623 x33
North Carolina
- Aurora Fossil Museum, October 6th, 2018
- Event will include Fossil Displays by members of the North Carolina Fossil Club Inc.; Fossil Talks; Games & Prizes including Fossil Jeopardy and a Fossil Scavenger Hunt; Art in the Fossil Park; Community Watch cookout; and Live Music.
- 10:00 am–4:00 pm
- 397 – 400 Main Street and along Main Street (Main Street around the museum will be blocked off during the event)
- Contact: Cynthia Crane, Executive Director, 252-322-4238
- Imagination Station Science and History Museum
- National Fossil Day, October 17, 2018
- Join us as we celebrate National Fossil Day at Imagination Station. During our celebration, future paleontologist will have the opportunity to dig for their own fossils, check out fossil displays, and more!
- 3:00 – 5:00 PM
- 224 Nash Street East, Wilson, NC 27893
- Justin White, jwhite@imaginescience.org, 252-291-5113
- Educator Treks- Fossil Hunt, October 13, 2018
- Step back into the past with Director of Education, Justin White leads you into one of Easter North Carolina’s most productive fossil sites. At the Greens Mill Run fossil hunters can find a variety of fossils ranging from shark teeth, to whale bones, to mosasaur teeth and more! Participants will be able to keep their finds and receive an ID chart to help identify their finds.
- 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- 224 Nash Street East, Wilson, NC 27893
- Justin White, jwhite@imaginescience.org, 252-291-5113
- Homeschool Science Club: Fossil Collecting 101, October 19, 2018
- Explore the past with us as we discuss fossil collecting and what we can learn from fossils. Participants will have the opportunity to find their own fossils and receive a specimen box to organize and catalog their finds just as paleontologists do!
- 2:00 – 3:00 PM
- 224 Nash Street East, Wilson, NC 27893
- Justin White, jwhite@imaginescience.org, 252-291-5113
- National Fossil Day, October 17, 2018
- McKinney Geology Museum at Appalachian State University, Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at AppState
- Learn about our paleo faculty and students’ current projects, dig through fossils and check out the inside of our new mobile lab!
- 10:00 am–2:00 pm
- McKinney Geology Teaching Museum (Rankin Science West), 108 Rankin Science South 572 Rivers Street, Boone, NC 28608
- Contact Marta Toran
North Dakota
- Fargo Public Library, Main Library, Saturday October 20th, 2018
- Celebrate National Fossil Day @ Your Library Fargo Public Library
- NDSU Herpetology Club, NDSU’s Geosciences Department, Fargo Public Library.
- Since the theme for National Fossil Day 2018 is The Age of Reptiles – More Than Just Dinosaurs, we’ve invited some very special cold-blooded guests to join us for a celebration! Meet our live reptilian guests and explore some extraordinary fossils when members of the NDSU Herpetology Club and staff from NDSU’s Geosciences Dept. help us celebrate. Kids can also complete a themed activity. No pre-registration is required for this all-ages event
- Main Library – 102 3rd St N, Fargo, ND 58102
- Contact: 701-241-1495
- Grand Forks Public Library and the Dakota Science Center, October 14th, 2018
- STEM @ the Library Earth Systems
- Geology and Earth Science STEM activities for families
- Grand Forks Public Library
- Contact: Dr. Laura Munski
Ohio
- Cincinnati Museum Center, Wednesday, October 10th, 2017
- Celebrate #NationalFossil Day with us! Meet our very own Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology, Dr. Brenda Hunda in Animal Spot, as she brings out some Cincinnati fossils from our collections and talks about the life that lived long ago in the sea that once covered Cincinnati.
- No registration is required. Free for CMC Members or with admission into the Duke Energy Children’s Museum.
- About Duke Energy Children’s Museum
- About Dr. Brenda Hunda
- 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
- Cincinnati Museum Center
- 1301 Western Ave, Cincinnati OH, 45203
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History, October 13, 2018
- National Earth Science and International Archaeology Day!
- Dig into archaeology, geology, mineralogy and more from 10am to 4pm Saturday, October 13. This event is included with general admission. Members get in free! Non-members: Free with general admission.
- Talk with Museum curators, volunteers and staff from the departments of:
- Archaeology
- Invertebrate Paleontology
- Mineralogy
- Paleobotany & Paleoecology
- Physical Anthropology
- Vertebrate Paleontology
- Meet guest scientists and representatives from local clubs and societies including:
- Buckeye Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America
- Cleveland Geological Society
- Cleveland Grotto of the National Speleological Society
- North Coast Fossil Club
- Parma Lapidary Club
- Shaker Historical Society
- Bring in a fossil, rock, mineral or artifact for identification
- Visit the Educator Resource Center on the Museum’s lower level and see archaeology and Earth science teaching kits from 10am to 1pm
- Assemble a pottery puzzle and take part in a rock matching activity in Smead Discovery Center on the Museum’s lower level
- Enter a free raffle hosted by the Cleveland Geological Society. A winner will be chosen every hour! (must be present to claim your prize).
- 10:00 am–Close
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland OH 44106
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Saturday, October 20th, 2018
- National Fossil Day
- National Park Service
- Join a fossil-hunting expedition for young and old, exploring the rocks of Furnace Run. Wear Shoes that can get wet. Meet at Everett Road Covered Bridge.
- 9:30 – 11 a.m.
- 2370 Everett Rd, Peninsula, OH 44264-9691, United States
- Ohio Statehouse, October 17, 2018
- National Fossil Day-Ohio Statehouse Fossil Tour
- Join us for National Fossil Day, held during Earth Science Week, and enjoy a Statehouse Fossil Tour–a geology tour of the Statehouse with special guest Dale M. Gnidovic, Curator of the OSU Orton Geological Museum. Experts will discuss the “Building Stones of the Capitol.”
- To reserve a free spot, call 614-728-2130 or lstedke@ohiostatehouse.org.
- 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Oregon
- University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, October 17th, 2018
- National Fossil Day Walk & Talks
- Celebrate National Fossil Day at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History! Join a fossil-focused Walk & Talk through our Explore Oregon exhibit and dig into Oregon’s deep natural history. Talks start at noon, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m. Included with regular admission; free for members and UO ID card holders.
- Museum of Natural and Cultural History 1680 East 15th Avenue Eugene, OR 97403
- Contact: mnch@uoregon.edu, 541-346-3024
Pennsylvania
- Middle Smithfield Township, Wednesday October 17th, 2018
- National Fossil Day & 3rd Marshalls Creek Mastodon Event
- Middle Smithfield Township and Middle Smithfield Township Historical Commission
- Field Paleontologists, Mike and Roberta Straka Present: DinosaurDig Show
- Mike & Roberta’s presentation will covers how they discover dinosaurs and they will even be bringing along “Mr. Nixon”, an eight foot Triceratops skull, they discovered in 1996 and an Albertosaurus skull.
- The program will include show & tell with rare and unusual fossils. In addition, Mike & Roberta will host the “Dinosaur Game Show”. Guests will also be treated to a fun science experiment with a touch of magic!
- 5:30 pm–7:00 pm
- Whispering Pines Banquet Hall (1445 Big Ridge Dr., E. Stroudsburg, Pa 18302)
- PLEASE RSVP TO: Dana at (570) 223-8920 x 121 by Wednesday, October 10th
- Ridley Creek State Park, October 17th, 2018
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Join DCNR Park Naturalist for a special hands on exhibit along the Multi-Use Trail to celebrate National Fossil Day. While the geology of Ridley Creek State Park consists of cambrian age metamorphic gneiss that does not contain fossils, many are found throughout other areas of Pennsylvania’s State Park System.
- See real specimens up close while learning about how fossils are formed, the kind of geology where they can be found and some of the ancient life that once roamed our world. Registration not required.
- 11:30 am–2:30 pm
- Ridley Creek State Park, 1023 Sycamore Mills Rd., Media, PA 19063-4398
- The State Museum of Pennsylvania, October 17th, 2018
- Join us in celebrating National Fossil Day on Wednesday, October 17 in the Paleontology Gallery. This year’s theme is “Giants of the Late Cretaceous.”
- This event is included with General Admission to the Museum.
- 11:30 am–Close
- State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St. Harrisburg, PA 17120
- Contact: (717) 787-4980
- Toy Box Gifts and Wonder,Wednesday, October 17
- National Fossil Day at Toy Box Gifts and Wonder
- 15% OFF all dig kits!
- Spend $25 or more and receive a FREE fossil!
- 10 AM – 5 PM
- Toy Box Gifts & Wonder, 42 S. Main St., Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201
Tennessee
- Alex’s Rock Shop, Saturday, October 20th, 2018
- Alex’s Rock Shop Presents a National Fossil Day Celebration. There will be fun educational events, panels, speakers, games, and more. We will be adding additional details as they are solidified.
- 12:00 pm–6:00 pm
- Contact: (931) 536-1626
- McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, October 28, 2018
- Can you Dig it?
- Archaeologists and paleontologists and their graduate students from the University of Tennessee will present on displays about their projects across the world, and talk with public about their work. Visitors can also bring artifacts, rocks, and fossils for identification. A number of activities for children, including games and take home crafts related to archaeology, will be available. All activities are free and open to the public.
- 1:30–5:00 pm
- McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Drive Knoxville, TN 37996
- Contact: Leslie Chang Jantz, Curator of Education
- Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History, Friday, October 12th, 2018
- National Fossil Day
- Tennessee STEAM Festival and Earth Experience
- Free with Admission
- The Earth Experience Museum will be open on extended hours as part of the Tennessee STEAM Festival and as part of National Fossil Day. There will be a kids’ fossil dig, geologists on site to answer questions and special exbhits: a full size Stegosaurus statue 25 feet long and a cast of a Trex leg 12 feet tall.
- 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
- 816 Old Salem Rd (543.60 mi), Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129
Texas
- Big Bend National Park, November 16th and 17th, 2018
- Supercroc Celebration & Fossil Weekend
- Big Bend National Park, National Park Service
- Ribbon cutting of new giant metal cutout of one of our famous fossil finds (Deinosuchus) at our Fossil Discovery Exhibit along with special programs and activities in celebration of National Fossil Day and Big Bend’s fossil story.
- Various times including- Friday cookies and punch with kids activities and a touch table of fossils 10AM-12PM, special evening program 730PM // Saturday touch table of fossils 10AM-12PM and afternoon ranger program at 3PM
- Various park locations to include- Panther Junction visitor center, Chisos Basin amphitheater, and Fossil Discovery Exhibit
- Contact: Maria Lavender maria_lavender@nps.gov 432-477-1196
- Dallas Paleontological Society and the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, October 6th, 2018
- Come explore the exciting world of fossils with members of the Dallas Paleontological Society. Learn about ancient Texas, see casts of animals, and become a member of the “PIT” Crew (Paleontologists in Training). You can even bring in your own fossils and have them identified. This event is included in general admission and free for Heard Museum members.
- 1:30–4:00 pm
- Contact: info@heardmuseum.org, 972-562-5566
- Mayborn Museum, Baylor University, Wednesday, October 10th, 2018
- Explore fossils by digging through gravel, searching for fossils, making their own fossil, and examining rising sea levels
- 10:00 am–12: 00 pm
- Mayborn Museum, One Bear Place #97154, Waco, TX 76798-7154
- Contact: Anna McKay
- Waco Mammoth National Monument, October 13, 2018
- Fall Fossil Festival, City of Waco
- Family friendly event full of fossils, food, fuzzy friends, and fun. Tour our dig site. Have fun with arts and crafts, face painting, and games. Paint a pumpkin. Enjoy this relaxed fall-themed festival with our friendly park rangers.
- 9:00 am–5:00 pm
- Waco Mammoth National Monument, 6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr, Waco TX 76708
- Contact: Raegan King, 254-750-7946
Utah
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Rocktoberfest!
- Celebrate Earth Science Week & National Fossil Day at Dinosaur National Monument
- Rock & Fossil Table
- There are 23 different geologic formations exposed at Dinosaur. Take
a closer look at a few of the rocks and fossils found within them. On
display at the Quarry Visitor Center all month (and outside all year).
- There are 23 different geologic formations exposed at Dinosaur. Take
- Fossil Discovery Hike
- Meet at the Quarry Exhibit Hall shuttle stop for a 1.2 mile, 1.5 hour
ranger-led hike through several different rock layers. The hike ends at
the Quarry Visitor Center. Bring water and wear good shoes. You may
also hike this trail at any time with a self-guided brochure.
- Meet at the Quarry Exhibit Hall shuttle stop for a 1.2 mile, 1.5 hour
- Quarry Talk
- Meet in the Quarry Exhibit Hall to experience 150 million years in
15-25 minutes! Short talks available at the quarry any time on request.
Junior Ranger Program & Activity Books
- Meet in the Quarry Exhibit Hall to experience 150 million years in
- Meet in the Quarry Exhibit Hall for a 20-30 minute program designed
especially for kids ages 5-12. At any time for any age: Request a free
Dinosaur Junior Ranger or National Junior Paleontologist activity
book, complete the activities recommended for your age, and earn a
different badge for each book. - The Wall of Bones: Live!
- Meet in person in the Quarry Exhibit Hall
or tune in to Facebook.com/DinosaurNPS
for a 45 minute broadcast from the
world famous Wall of Bones.
- Meet in person in the Quarry Exhibit Hall
- Every Day, All Month
- Rock & Fossil Table, Junior Ranger & Junior Paleontologist Activity Books
- Wednesday, October 10
- 10:00 am – The Wall of Bones: Live!
- 3:00 pm – The Wall of Bones: Live!
-
- 10:00 am – Fossil Discovery Hike
- 10:30 am – Quarry Talk
- 2:30 pm – Quarry Talk
-
- 10:00 am – The Wall of Bones: Live!
-
- 10:30 am – Jr Ranger Program
-
- 10:30 am – Jr Ranger Program
-
- 10:00 am – Fossil Discovery Hike
- 10:30 am – Jr Ranger Program
- 2:30 pm – Jr Ranger Program
Saturday, October 13
Wednesday, October 17
Thursday, October 18
Friday, October 19
Saturday, October 20
Sunday, October 21
-
- 10:30 am – Jr Ranger Program
- Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History, Southern Utah University, October 17, 2018
- Amazing Fossil Discoveries on Your Public Lands
- Did you know that Utah is home to a Jurassic Dinosaur Death Pit? Or that the dinosaur centerpiece of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC is a 90-foot long Diplodocus longus from Utah? The Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History will be hosting a day long event celebrating the amazing fossils found on public lands all over the United States and how they have contributed to human understanding of life on Earth. Exhibits will be open from 9am until 5pm with a special kids fossil activity at 3 pm and an evening lecture by local scientists from 6:30–8:30 pm to discuss ancient DNA, paleontology in Utah, and the status of fossils on Utah’s public lands.
- Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History, Southern Utah University, on the corner of S 300 W and E 200 S, Cedar City, Utah.
- Contact: Dr. Jacqualine Grant, 435-865-8549
Washington
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, October 13, 2018
- Celebrate National Fossil Day™ and see live fossil preparation at the Burke! The doors will be open to our Testing, Testing 1-2-3: Work in Progress fossil prep lab so you can get up close to examine the incredible progress our paleontologists are making on the “Tufts-Love” T. rex skull and other fossils
- 1:00–5:00 pm
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1413 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105
- Contact: theburke@uw.edu | 206.616.3962
Wyoming
- Fossil Butte National Monument, Saturday, October 13th, 2018
- National Fossil Day Celebration
- Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to help rangers prepare real fossil from the Green River Formation. Learn about the tools used to prepare fossils for study, and try your hand at uncovering 52 million year old fossils.
- 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Fossil Butte National Monument, 864 Chicken Creek Rd, Kemmerer, WY
- Contact: 307-877-4455, kimberly_acker@nps.gov
- Tate Geological Museum at Casper College, October 20th, 2018
- National Fossil Day Open House
- Join the Tate Geological Museum for fun fossil activities, crafts, tours and treats. Paint your own fossil cast, tour the Rex Annex, hunt for fossils and have your face painted while you enjoy punch and cookies! We will have door prizes for the kids and the ever popular Fossil Road Show, so bring in your rocks and fossils for identification.
- 10:00 am–2:00 pm
- Tate Geological Museum at Casper College. 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601
- Contact: 307-268-2447
Check back regularly here on PLOS Paleo for additional upcoming NFD events! And if you have events to share, contact us or John-Paul Hodnett at the address above!