About this Event
The National Park Service and the American Geosciences Institute host the annual National Fossil Day celebration during Earth Science Week in October. National Fossil Day is a celebration organized to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational value. 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.
Fossils aren’t just interesting and fun to look at — they’re also proof of the existence of once-living things (like dinosaurs, animals, plants and even DNA remnants). Through these fossils we’re able to learn a lot about life from billions of years ago. We can even take a look at animals and life-forms that are no longer on the planet! These fossils (and the education around them) deserve to be preserved and explored. That’s why we celebrate National Fossil Day. Show some appreciation for these incredible “time capsules” and the paleontologists who excavate them.
Celebrate with us by attending sessions and stations on fossil preparation, aquatic and land animal fossils, and Paleo Art! Touch and feel specimens from our collections, like ammonites and trilobites, while learning about the unique history of the Eocene period. You can even experience a special sneak peak in our collections with our paleontologists to see the behind-the-scenes action of fossil care. Don't forget to attend our workshops for some hands-on fossil fun!
- See specimens from our collections, like Eocene Fossils (Fish and Reptiles)
- Jane’s Skull, Homer and many other skulls and individual triceratops horns.
- Meet today's Living Fossils: extant species that is seemingly unchanged from their ancestors in the fossil record.
- Finds from the Field- all ages (Showcasing specimens recovered from this past field season) including a Sneak Peak at our behind the scenes collections department.
- See examples of Paleo Art created by our resident Artists
- View special guest fossil collections
- Special Feature: Shark species found in Mammoth Cave
- Introducing our newest Teachers & SPARK Boxes
- Join our newest Scavenger Hunt for a modest fee of $1
- C omplete the Fossil Day Passport for a special prize
General Admission Costs:
Nonmembers: Adults (13+): $16, Children (4-12): $14, Children 3 and Under: Free!
ALL Members Admission - Free!
Attend an Art of the Earth Workshop - (Ages 7+) 2p m to 3pm, TBD Cost: $5 for Members, $10 for Nonmembers
We'll have make-and-take crafts for ages 3+, Sessions: 12:15pm - 1pm or 3:30pm - 4:15pm, Cost: $8 for Members, $12 for Nonmembers
Cancellation/refund policy for the Make and Take craft: Due to the cost of materials, registrations will end on10/12/202, any cancellation must be received 7 clear days ahead of the event.
You can even experience a special sneak peak in our collections with our paleontologists to see the behind-the-scenes action of fossil care!
Paleontologists are pretty incredible people. They go through lots of schooling and training to be able to study the fossils of all kinds of organisms. It’s because of them that we know a lot about the last few billion years of our planet’s history. Show your appreciation by asking them to tell you more!
Please note that the ASTC free or discounted admissions are not valid to special events and exhibits, planetarium, and larger-screen theater presentations, nor do they include museum store discounts and other benefits associated with museum membership unless stated otherwise.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 North Main Street, Rockford, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 18.91
