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Fossil Discovery Exhibit To Open At Big Bend National Park

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By NPT Staff - December 29th, 2016

On January 14, the Big Bend Conservancy and Big Bend National Park in Texas will host a grand opening ceremony for the Fossil Discovery Exhibit.

Replacing the previous Fossil Bone Exhibit, the Fossil Discovery Exhibit is a multi-room building where visitors can learn about the 130 million years of geologic time represented in the park. Specimens from Big Bend’s remarkable fossil record and full-color artwork help illustrate the fascinating story of Big Bend’s ancient life and changes to the ecosystems from ancient sea beds to volcanic savannahs.

The Fossil Discovery Exhibit is the most significant addition to Big Bend National Park’s exhibits in the past 50 years. The grand opening of this facility will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., as well as games and giveaways for children. Parking at the facility is limited, and visitors are asked to use a shuttle system that will be set up from the Chisos Basin. Details regarding this free shuttle service will be posted on www.facebook.com/groups/bigbendfriends and www.nps.gov/bibe.

“Big Bend National Park has an incredible fossil record, which we are proud to preserve and share,” Superintendent Cindy Ott-Jones said. “We are excited to unveil this exhibit, which will finally properly showcase this amazing resource and inspire generations to come.”

The Big Bend Conservancy has raised more than $1.5 million for this exhibit renovation, including $300,000 from the National Park Service Centennial Cost Share Challenge. Major donors to the exhibit include the M.S. Doss Foundation, the Rhodes Charitable Fund, the Brown Foundation Inc., the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation, the Amon Carter Foundation, the Abell-Hanger Foundation, the Permian Basin Foundation, and holders of the Big Bend license plate.

The Big Bend Conservancy is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support, promote, and raise funds for Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, in partnership with the National Park Service and other supporters who value the unique qualities of this national resource.

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