NATIONAL FOSSIL DAY™
National Fossil Day is observed annually on Wednesday of the second full week in October.
National Fossil Day was established to promote the scientific and educational values of fossils. This nationwide celebration was first held on October 13, 2010, during Earth Science Week. The National Park Service and over 270 partners, including museums, institutions, organizations and other groups hosted events across the United States allowing the public opportunities to learn more about the world’s fossil heritage.
National Fossil Day 2011 was observed on October 12, 2011, with events at museums, parks, universities and non-profit organizations.
National Fossil Day 2012 was celebrated on October 17, 2012. The National Fossil Day Celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. was the kick-off event.
The 2013 National Fossil Day was celebrated on October 16, 2013.
Each year a new National Fossil Day logo is created depicting a prehistoric organism. The logos help to promote National Fossil Day and provide educational opportunities to share more information about fossils. The original National Fossil Day logo was created in 2010 and featured a fossil mammal known as the titanothere. In 2011, the marine reptile known as the mosasaur was used in the National Fossil Day logo. During 2012, the mammoth was featured in the annual logo. For 2013, a Paleozoic invertebrate known as the eurypterid is highlighted in the annual logo.
Each year a new National Fossil Day logo is created and is unveiled in mid-January on the event website. The new logo will highlight another interesting story related to the fossil record of life.
The 2015 National Fossil Day artwork features prehistoric mammal known as a chalicothere depicted in a Miocene prairie grassland. In 2016, the National Fossil Day artwork features a saber-toothed cat, long-horned bison, and a condor – all Pleistocene (ice age) animals.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Visit a local museum or do some research about fossils. Use #NationalFossilDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
National Fossil Day was first held on October 13, 2010, during Earth Science Week.