Fossil Day at Morrill Hall will feature ID station, storytime, scavenger hunt

Shane Tucker (right), highway paleontologist with the University of Nebraska State Museum, shows visitors how microfossils are sorted during a previous Fossil Night event.

Fossil Day returns to the University of Nebraska State Museum-Morrill Hall on Oct. 15. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can enjoy a variety of fossil-themed activities hosted by museum paleontologists and educators. Morrill Hall will also host a food drive for Food Bank of Lincoln during the event.

“We’re excited this year’s Fossil Day event also allows us to give back to our community,” said Susan Weller, director of the NU State Museum. “While fossils are the historical treasures of science, people in our community are the talent treasure of Lincoln.”

Any visitor who brings a nonperishable food or hygiene item will receive a raffle ticket for prizes. The food bank’s most desired items include tuna and canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, boxed dinners, 100% fruit juice, toilet paper, diapers, soap, feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner.

For Fossil Day, museum paleontologists will host a fossil ID station. Visitors can bring their fossils to the museum, and experts will help identify them. Other Fossil Day highlights include dinosaur storytime with Lincoln City Libraries, a scavenger hunt, making clay fossil imprints, digging for fossils in a sandbox, learning about invertebrate fossils, exploring the three types of fossil elephants and meeting the museum’s mascot, Archie.

Fossil Day activities are included with admission to Morrill Hall. Museum members will receive free admission to the event. All other museum discounted rates will apply, including senior, veteran and Museums for All – $1 admission for families qualifying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Electronic Benefits Transfer and the Women, Infants and Children program.

Free parking will be available for all visitors in the large parking lot in front of Morrill Hall. Those with questions about Fossil Day can find more information by clicking here or by calling 402-472-2637.

“We hope families will join us and have fun exploring Nebraska’s ancient past,” Weller said.