Students celebrate National Fossil Day at Sternberg Museum

fossil wide — Dr. Laura Wilson, Mike Everhart and Reese Barrick quiz students about how we use fossils today

October 16 is National Fossil Day. At Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays, every day is Fossil Day.

The museum’s many fossil specimens and exhibits are front and center today as students from Hays, WaKeeney, Quinter and Wheatland tour five activity stations pairing fossil specimens with living animals.

Curator of Paleontology Dr. Laura Wilson, adjunct curator of paleontology Mike Everhart, museum director Reese Barrick, and Fort Hays State University graduate students are explaining how fossil are studied and the use of fossils to understand changes over time.

This afternoon at 2p.m., Sternberg’s new fossil sea turtle will be unveiled. It was found in 2011 south of Quinter on private land and has been donated by the landowners.

fossil table — The new Sternberg sea turtle fossil will be officially presented today

The public is invited to attend evening presentations by the curators as well as Education Director David Levering. The Discovery Room will feature activities for kids. Tonight’s events are from 6:30-8p.m.

Admission is free the entire day.

Find out more about National Fossil Day tonight on Hays Post, Eagle Community TV Channel 14.