National Fossil Day


National Fossil Day was established in the United States to promote the scientific and educational values of fossils. It was first held on October 13, 2010, during Earth Science Week. The National Park Service, the American Geosciences Institute, and more than 375 partners, including museums, institutions, organizations and other groups, joined together to educate the public about the value of fossils. Hundreds of activities were hosted across the United States aimed at improving public understanding of the world's fossil heritage.
The second National Fossil Day 2011 was observed on October 12, 2011 with events at museums, parks, universities, and non-profit organizations. National Fossil Day 2012 was celebrated on October 17, 2012 with an opening event held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. Similar events have been held annually.

Official NFD Logo

The official National Fossil Day Logo was introduced in 2010 and is used on promotional items and event websites every year. The logo features a fossil titanothere, a prehistoric mammal.

Annual Artwork

Each year new National Fossil Day Artwork is created and announced in mid-January on the event website, depicting a prehistoric organism:
An annual National Fossil Day Art Contest is hosted by the National Park Service and the National Fossil Day Partnership. The theme for the year is announced in the Spring and people of all ages are invited to submit fossil-inspired, original artwork. Contest rules and an entry form are available on the official National Fossil Day website. The art contest themes for past years include: