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Fossil Tour of the Ohio Statehouse on Earth Day
April 14, 2023
 
Fossil Tour for Earth Day
(Columbus, OH)—The Ohio Statehouse invites families and friends to a FREE fossil tour on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22 from noon until 1:30 p.m. During this special tour, visitors will see fossil specimens, and then find similar fossils in the limestone walls and floors of the Ohio Statehouse.

The tour starts on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. Fossils will be displayed by Dale M. Gnidovec, Curator of the OSU Orton Geological Museum. Mark Peter, Paleontologist at ODNR Division of Geological Survey, will lead the group inside and outside the Ohio Statehouse.

This special tour is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but individuals or organizations that want to schedule a group to attend the tour, should contact Katie Montgomery at 614-728-3726 or kmontgomery@ohiostatehouse.org.

The Ohio Statehouse tour begins and ends in the Governor Thomas Worthington Center, where an exhibit on loan from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History shows replica fossils of Dunkleosteus terrelli and a shark. Dunkleosteus terrelli became the official State Fossil Fish in March of 2021.

Each visitor will receive a free copy of the booklet, Statehouse Fossils: A Guide to Fossils of the Ohio Capitol, by Mark E. Peter. An informative poster of Fossils of the Columbus Limestone is available for purchase online at https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/gifts-and-mechandise/ohio-geology-publications.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year to encourage global conservation efforts and environmental protection. These events encourage young learners to explore the natural world and engage the public in efforts to care for our planet.

Photos are available on the Ohio Statehouse website: http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/geology-fossil-tour

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