News Release Date: October 9, 2013
Eric Scott, Curator of Paleontology • (909) 798-8616 • escott@sbcm.sbcounty.gov
For release: Immediately
Event date: Wednesday, October 16, 2013
National Fossil Day at the County Museum
The San Bernardino County Museum will celebrate National Fossil Day on Wednesday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Museum paleontologists and geologists will showcase a wealth of ancient invertebrate fossils from the County Museum’s collections. Museum visitors will be able to get up close and personal with fossilized remains of extinct Paleozoic trilobites and other ocean denizens from the time before the dinosaurs. The day-long event, held in the Museum’s Hall of Geological Wonders, is included with paid admission.
“Our museum is well known for its Ice Age fossils, but those are only a part of our collections,” says Eric Scott, Curator of Paleontology. “We also hold an amazing variety of marine invertebrates from the Paleozoic Era. We’re selecting some of the most impressive of these to share with Museum visitors on National Fossil Day!”
National Fossil Day is an annual celebration organized by the National Park Service and the American Geological Institute, “to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational value.” On October 16, paleontologists and Park rangers all over the country will share fossil discoveries and promote the importance of preserving fossils as part of our shared natural heritage.
County Museum scientists are eager to participate, since Paleozoic rocks abound in San Bernardino County. “Many of the mountains in the Mojave Desert are actually composed of ancient ocean rocks,” observes Kathleen Springer, Senior Curator of Geological Sciences. “It’s amazing to think that our deserts contain the fossil remains of ocean creatures, but that’s part of why our region is so special geologically.”
In addition to the day-long event in the Museum’s Hall of Geological Wonders, Museum paleontologists will offer “behind the scenes” tours, and will share plans for upcoming exhibits in the Hall. “We’re offering an opportunity to see fossils you might otherwise never see,” says Scott. “Our main job is preserving these fossils for everyone, both for science and as part of our shared natural heritage. But we love it when we can share the fossils with Museum visitors, too!”
To learn more about National Fossil Day, visit the National Park Service web site:
The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 am to 5pm. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669.
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