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8 Places to Investigate Fossils Around Ohio
Ever since the first fossils were discovered, they have fascinated people around the world by providing a glimpse into what life so many years ago. Our knowledge of the past has been shaped by the many fossils discovered around the world. With National Fossil Day coming up on the second Wednesday of October, now is the perfect time to discover the amazing world of fossils. Whether you're in Columbus, Northeast Ohio, or Cincinnati, there are tons of great places to explore fossils around Ohio.
Cincinnati Museum Center Dinosaur Hall
1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45203
Do your kids love dinosaurs? Trick question – of course, they do! The Cincinnati Museum Center is home to a variety of fascinating, family-friendly museums, including the Dinosaur Hall, where kids can learn all about the prehistoric creatures that once roamed Ohio. The Dinosaur Hall exhibit is home to 6 massive, nearly complete dinosaur skeletons, displayed in all of their glory. There are a variety of interactive elements that make it easy to learn more, and the museum showcases mostly specimens from the late Jurassic period. Many of the fossils on display here are part of ongoing scientific research, with new discoveries being made regularly.
Trammel Fossil Park
11935 Tramway Dr., Sharonville, OH 45241
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Located just outside of Cincinnati, Trammel Fossil Park is one of the few places in Ohio where you can dig for your own fossils and take them home. The park is located in 10 acres of land, which has never been disturbed by development, and was donated by a local family. It's one of the safest, most accessible places in Ohio to dig for fossils, and there are tons of specimens in excellent condition to be found here. Trammel Fossil Park is a popular place for school field trips and a great place for families to visit anytime.
Oakes Quarry Park
1267 E. Xenia Dr., Fairborn, OH 45234
With a central location between Columbus and Cincinnati, Oakes Quarry Park surrounds a historic limestone mine filled with natural beauty. The mining activities here helped expose many of the fossils that were once buried deep underground, and the entire park is filled with trails that make it easy to explore every corner. While you're searching for fossils, you're also likely to see a variety of birds and other wildlife in a thriving natural habitat. Just be sure to collect only fossils from designated fossil collection piles, which can be found throughout the park.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland, OH 44106
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For kids and adults alike, there are few better places to learn about ancient animals than the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The museum has been celebrating historic finds for more than 100 years, with an extensive selection of exhibits on creatures from Ohio and points far beyond. Families with kids will love exploring the Smead Discovery Center, which has a variety of exhibits geared toward kids age 10 and under. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is currently undergoing a large renovation, which will add new exhibits and re-imagine existing ones. But don't worry, the museum will be open throughout the construction project, and there's plenty to see no matter when you visit.
Akron Fossils & Science Center
2080 S. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Copley, OH 44321
Just outside of Akron, you will find the Akron Fossils & Science Center, which was recently voted as the top children's museum in all of Northeast Ohio. There are two separate branches of the facility, one dedicated to hands-on science experiences for all ages and one focused on the creation of the universe. There's also an outdoor park with even more learning opportunities. Your admission grants access to all three areas, along with guided tours for each area. There are tons of opportunities to get hands-on with fossils while learning from a talented team of educators with a variety of backgrounds.
American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery at COSI
333 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
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Ever wonder what it would be like to see a young T. rex walking across the plains of Ohio? The Dinosaur Gallery at the Center of Science & Industry features a six-foot-long model of a T. rex that walks in place, and that's just the start of what you'll find here. There are exhibits on a wide variety of dinosaurs, featuring fossils that have been beautifully preserved and plenty of educational information on each fossil. There's also a full-size, climbable model of an ancient Oviraptor nest and a 100-million-year-old piece of fossilized amber, which has an ancient feather preserved inside.
Caesar Creek State Park Spillway
8570 OH-73, Waynesville, OH 45068
One of the best places to dig for your own fossils in Ohio, the Caesar Creek State Park Spillway is home to a vast collection of fossils from the Ordovician period hundreds of millions of years ago. At that time, the entire area was covered by a large inland waterway and was home to a thriving coral reef filled with aquatic species. While the inland sea and reef are long gone, many of the fossils from that time period are still around to be discovered in the present day. Before you start hunting for fossils, make sure that you stop by the visitor's center to get a permit, which is available free of charge and comes with some handy guides for collecting and identifying fossils.
Orton Geological Museum at Ohio State University
155 S. Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210
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The Orton Geological Museum is located on the historic Ohio State University campus, filled with fossils and other incredibly interesting exhibits. There are frequent talks from fossil experts from the Ohio State University faculty and other experts from around the world. If you can't make it to the museum in person, there are also some great digital programs available for free. This year, there's a unique digital exhibit on Ohio fossils, put together in honor of National Fossil Day. Best of all, the digital exhibits are free to view whenever you want to see them.
Can You Dig It?
Ohio is one of the best states for fossil hunting. Which destination will you investigate first?
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