Saturday, October 2, 2010

Fossil Discovery Center in Madera County is Opening!

Painting by David Douglas for the Fossil Discovery Center

If you live anywhere near the geographical center of California, there is some exciting paleontology news! Since the early 1990's Fairmead Landfill has been the source of thousands of specimens of a diverse Pleistocene fauna, including horses, camels, mammoths, sabertooth cats, giant ground sloths and many other fascinating inhabitants of the Central Valley thousands of years ago (I've posted several items about the excavations here and here). For years the San Joaquin Valley Paleontology Foundation has been planning to develop a center where students and visitors can learn about the intriguing history of our valley. And their plans are coming to fruition.

The San Joaquin Valley Paleontology Foundation is sponsoring the Grand Opening Celebration of the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County. The journey began in 1993 with the discovery of a seven-foot mammoth tusk. Today their expedition into a pre-historic era continues, opening the past to students, scientists and community. Come and be a part of this historical event.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Ribbon Cutting -10:00 a.m.

Reception—5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County
19450 Avenue 21 ½
Chowchilla, CA 93610
Take the Hwy 99 Exit 164, SW corner of Road 19 ½ & Avenue 21 ½

Refreshments will be served & tours provided.
--
San Joaquin Valley Paleontology Foundation
Board of Directors
sjvpaleo@gmail.com
http://www.maderamammoths.org/

Come and check it out!

1 comment:

Gaelyn said...

Very cool. And they are opening on the first National Fossil Day.