National Fossil Day
Celebrate Fossils
National Fossil Day with the National Park Service is coming! It is a yearly celebration that highlights the scientific and educational value of fossils and paleontology! We focus on the value of collecting, and the importance of preserving them for future generations.
Don’t miss our NEW and exclusive behind the scenes paleo lab and fossil tours!!
October 19, 2024
National Fossil Day Celebration
10:00am-4:30pm
Burpee Museum will celebrate national fossil day with Rockford from 10am to 4:30pm with special activities and fossils available on one day only! Get up close to the paleontology collection at Burpee Museum with special Collection Tours!
15th Annual National Fossil Day Celebration
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.
Admission Costs:
General Admission Nonmembers: Adults (13+): $15, Children (4-12): $13, Children 3 and Under: Free!
Genearal Admission Members: $0 Become a member!
Exclusive Paleo Lab Tour: $18 General Admission Included in Paleo Lab Tour Ticket! Paleo tour is a 30-minute session. You must sign up for a specific time. Members: Don’t forget to use your discount code for your paleolab tour!
Tour Times:
11am
1pm
3pm
Please Pre-register for tours. We expect tour times to sell out in advance, so reserve your spot asap!
Become a Jr. Paleontologist!
Thanks to the National Parks Service, check out these kid friendly ways to get excited about fossils with FREE downloads!
EXPLORE the ways that paleontologists work, and the methods and tools they use to understand ancient life.
LEARN about Earth’s history, ancient plants and animals, and changes to past climate and environments.
PROTECT our national parks, including fossils and the rocks in which they are found
Free Jr. Paloentologist Guide:
Free Prehistoric Coloring Book:
Click image to download for free!
NOTE: This is a publication of the National Park Service. It contains copyrighted artwork and is being made available in this format exclusively for non-commercial, educational purposes.
Celebrate with us by attending sessions and stations on fossil preparation, aquatic and land animal fossils from the Eocene period, 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 by signing up for our Paleo Lab Tours.