Smithsonian.com

The National Fossil Day logo.

It’s almost here: next week, on October 13, national parks around the country will celebrate the first annual National Fossil Day. A tribute to America’s fossil riches from Florida to Alaska, the National Park Service will be running a series of events and special programs to educate the public about the history of life on earth.

According to the official National Fossil Day website, events will vary from park to park, but there will be a few major events. At the Grand Canyon, one of the most well-known geologic features on the planet, park rangers will unveil a new “Trail of Time” which guides visitors through millions upon millions of years of the earth’s history, while in Washington, D.C., a slew of paleontologists, rangers and other authorities will converge on the National Mall and the National Museum of Natural History to teach any enthusiastic passers by about the fossil record. Wherever you are, there will be something going on nearby, although I am a little disappointed that I will have to miss the events this year as National Fossil Day coincides with the last day of the annual Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting.

For more information on National Fossil Day and events in your area, visit the celebration’s official website.