National Fossil Day at the National Museum of Natural History

WHAT:    Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and National Park Service celebrate National Fossil Day with fossil/dinosaur festival

WHEN:    Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

WHERE:   Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W.

The all-day family festival will feature child-friendly, fossil-themed activities presented by scientists from the Smithsonian, the National Park Service and partners such as the National Science Foundation and U.S. Geological Survey. Visitors can:

• Explore dinosaurs in the Polar Forest with Smithsonian dinosaur expert, Matt Carrano
• Get a sneak preview of the new Fossil Hall with Smithsonian exhibit specialist, Siobhan Starrs
• Take the Junior Paleontologist’s Pledge offered hourly with National Park Service senior paleontologist, Vincent Santucci, and receive a badge and activity book
• See 3-D scanning technology demonstration and how it is used to learn more about fossils with the Smithsonian’s Adam Metallo
• Enjoy presentations by scientists and researchers on recent discoveries about fossils, from “The Diets of Fossil Mammals” to “Fossil Pollen”
• Sift for their own fossils, have help to identify them and take them home
• Do their own fossil rubbings from casts of prehistoric creatures to take home
• Join in “Draw Alongs” with Bob Walters and Tess Kissinger, paleoartists and authors of Discovering Dinosaurs
• Visit the FossiLab, a working laboratory in “The Last American Dinosaurs” exhibition
• Enjoy fossil displays and mobile activity carts including “What is a Fossil” and “It’s a Date”
• Attend a book signing at the Museum Family Store, with Bob Walters and Tess Kissinger, paleoartists and authors of Discovering Dinosaurs
• Go to the Selfie Station and use fun paleo-inspired costumes and props to take photos; they can tag and share them with #DiscoverFossils
• Watch IMAX movies Dinosaurs ALIVE in 3D and National Parks Adventure in 3D; both movies are free to youth 12 and under with a Junior Paleontologist badge

For information on the festival and a schedule of events, go to http://naturalhistory.si.edu/fossil-hall/.

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SI-531-2016