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National Fossil Day
October 28, 2023 @ 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Free
Visit the Alabama Museum of Natural History on October 28, 2023 from 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM for a free National Fossil Day event to celebrate the rich fossil record Alabama has to offer! This year’s theme is mosasaurs, ancient predators of up to ~50 ft long that lived in the ocean covering most of Alabama during the Cretaceous.There is something to see and do for everyone! Several activities will be available for kids, tables with a variety of fossils will be showcased, and various special events are scheduled. These events include a keynote talk about mosasaurs, the presentation of an award to an avocational paleontologist, and the unveiling of a new 6 x 2.5 ft mosasaur exhibit. Nobody has to go home empty handed: choose your free fossil at the Department of Museum Research and Collections tables.
This will be an afternoon full of activities not to be missed! This event is co-organized by the Alabama Museum of Natural History and The University of Alabama Museums’ Department of Museum Research and Collections.
Schedule of Events
Kids Activities (1:00 pm – 2:30 pm)
In Smith Hall Room 123, we will have a fossil dig at 1:00 pm until 1:30 pm, an art activity from 1:45 pm until 2:05 pm, and a Paleontology Show and Tell from 2:15 pm until 2:30 pm.
Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award Presentation and Keynote Talk (2:30 pm – 3:45 pm)
At 2:30 pm until 3:45 pm, we will have a special presentation for the 2023 Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award hosted by Dr. Adiel Klompmaker, followed immediately by Keynote talk by Dr. Jon Bryan (Northwest Florida State College) entitled “Alabama mosasaurs I have known”.
New Mosasaur Exhibit Unveiling (3:45 pm)
Inside the Grand Gallery at 3:45 pm, there will be an unveiling of a new mosasaur exhibit for the Alabama Museum of Natural History!
Grand Gallery Tables (1:30 pm – 4:00 pm)
From 1:30 pm until 4:00 pm, there will be tables with many different fossils in the Grand Gallery. At the Department of Museum Research and Collections’ table, we are giving away 1 free fossil per person!
Date and Time
This National Fossil Day is being held on Saturday, October 28 from 1:30 pm until 4:00 pm.
Admission
This event is free!
Location
The National Fossil Day celebration event will be held inside the Alabama Museum of Natural History (Smith Hall on The University of Alabama campus). The street address is 427 Sixth Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.
Directions
From Birmingham: Take Interstate 20/59 S to Tuscaloosa exit 73, McFarland Blvd. Head West on McFarland Blvd toward the University of Alabama. Exit right onto University Blvd. Follow University Blvd to Hackberry Lane. Make a right onto Hackberry Lane and turn into the second parking lot on your left behind Smith Hall (yellow brick building).
From Montgomery: Take Hwy 82 W to Tuscaloosa. Exit right onto University Blvd. Follow University Blvd to Hackberry Lane. Make a right onto Hackberry Lane and turn into the second parking lot on your left behind Smith Hall (yellow brick building).
Parking
Parking on The University of Alabama campus on Saturday is FREE! Parking spots are available behind Smith Hall, next to the Math and Science Education Building and next to Lloyd Hall.