It's National Fossil Day - Where's your favorite place?

[4runnerguy]

Today (Wednesday) is National Fossil Day. So where's your favorite place to see fossils? Doesn't have to be someplace like Dinosaur NM, Petrified Forest, or Florissant Fossil Beds NM. There are some great museums in this country, too. I've never been to the Chicago or NYC museums and the Smithsonian Natural History Museums had their dinosaur hall closed when we were there this summer. 😞

So far, I think the Utah Field House of Natural History in Vernal is near the top of my list, although the "bone wall" at Dinosaur NM is pretty impressive.

A trip to the Burgess Shale in Canada would make for an interesting day of exploration.

So where's your favorite place to see fossils?

[ReneeG]

lbrjet wrote:
We visited the Vernal State Park museum and 'the wall' this summer. Both were good. The flowers in Vernal were also impressive. Also went to the Red Gulch Dinosaur Trackbed, run by the BLM, outside of Greybull, WY that had tracks in a dry stone creekbed. Were hard to find, but there were several there.

We were there too. Loved it. It's closer to Shell.

[donkeydew]

fossil,oregon

[1rickw]

I was going to make a snide remark about being a fossil myself, but a lot of you have taken my idea!

[lbrjet]

We visited the Vernal State Park museum and 'the wall' this summer. Both were good. The flowers in Vernal were also impressive. Also went to the Red Gulch Dinosaur Trackbed, run by the BLM, outside of Greybull, WY that had tracks in a dry stone creekbed. Were hard to find, but there were several there.

[Allworth]

Joggin's in Nova Scotia.

[Roy_Lynne]

I have to vote for John Day also. Amazing place. But, here in the west where green doesn't cover everything, you can find fossils just about anywhere. I was in Barstow CA and there is a BLM campground just north of there and darned if while I was walking around I found camel footprints. Now in all honesty, I wouldn't have known they were camel footprints if I hadn't read the sign

[Bonefish]

fla-gypsy wrote:

Bonefish wrote:
My house, DH is a geologist. All sorts of fossils here.

Sharon

I have to go no further than my own chair and no, I'm not a geologist. More like a living fossil when I look at what goes on around me.

Same here with my husband, I call him a "Fossil" all the time. He is getting closer to the saying "older than dirt". Sorry honey!

Sharon

[RedRocket204]

donn0128 wrote:
John Day fossil beds between Prineville and John Day,Oregon

A unique and beautiful area and one where you can pay a donation to the local high school and dig for your own fossils. Add to that staying at the Fish House Inn and RV Park in Dayville for a wonderful experience. I still compare other RV parks to the Fish House even though there are only 8 or so spots, no campfires allowed... it rates up there as one of the nicest spots I personally have been to.

Of course there is Painted Hills to see, part of the John Day Fossil Beds units:



One of the lesser known gems of Oregon.

[pjsky]

Murphsmom wrote:
The Mammoth Site at Hot Springs, South Dakota.

me also

[ependydad]

I don't have a favorite, but I have a first- we were in Moab last week. There were multiple places for "Dinosaur Trails". We went to one and really enjoyed seeing real fossils in the rocks.

[fla-gypsy]

Bonefish wrote:
My house, DH is a geologist. All sorts of fossils here.

Sharon

I have to go no further than my own chair and no, I'm not a geologist. More like a living fossil when I look at what goes on around me.

[Gonzo42]

They have a day just for me? I'm honored.

[mrgreetis]

I can't remember where it is in Texas, but there is a park by a river where they discovered dinosaur tracks in the riverbed. My daughter and family lived in McKinney and when we visited once we went there and saw numerous sets of tracks. Very interesting!!

[Murphsmom]

The Mammoth Site at Hot Springs, South Dakota.