10 Days until Christmas...

With ten days until Christmas, my true love gave to me: 10 Lords a leaping 10 Sabre tooth Cats Leaping!

What's more "lordly" in the animal kingdom than the mighty Sabre Toothed Cat? You can see California's Official State Fossil, and many more at the Fossil Discovery Center in Chowchilla. There you will see the animals that once roamed this region hundreds of thousands of years ago: Short Faced Bears, Harlan's Ground Sloth, Camelops and the mighty Colombian Mammoth.

Fun for kids and parents alike, the Fossil Discovery Center takes you on a journey through time by showcasing the fossils of animals that were all found right there on site.

Once you're done exploring pre-history, then check out the gift shop for the perfect Christmas present for your favorite family archaeologist.

For more, visit www.MaderaMammoths.org. To start planning your Yosemite area vacation, visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com

Fossil Discovery Center celebrates National Fossil Day

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636

Fossil Discovery Center to celebrate National Fossil Day

Chowchila, CA. – The Fossil Discovery Center in Chowchilla has some big plans in store to celebrate National Fossil Day Saturday, Oct. 15. 

The museum features the fossilized remains of California’s State Fossil the sabretoothed cat, as well as Colombian mammoths, shortfaced bears and other Pleistocene era animals. All of these animals were found adjacent to where the museum now sits. 

In addition to those fossils, the museum has arranged the display of some very special items, including a cluster of 65 million hadrosaur and raptor eggs found in China and a collection of oreodont bones.

The Fresno Chafee Zoo will also have live specimens on display at the Fossil Discovery Center from 10 until 12 as well, including a burrowing owl and a king snake. 

A professional “flintknapper” will be demonstrating how ancient residents of the San Joaquin Valley made arrowheads and spear points from the stones found here. 

The Fossil Discovery Center will also be holding mock digs where kids can practice paleontology techniques as they uncover replica fossils and learn how to identify what they find.

Also on display will be the FDC’s latest addition, the Pleistocene Pond, landscaped with native vegetation from the period. 

Entrance in to the museum is $8 for adults, $6 for military or seniors, students get in for $4 and children under 3 are free. To learn more, visit www.maderamammoths.org. 

About Fossil Discovery Center
The Fossil Discovery Center in Chowchilla opened its doors last year after nearly 20 years of work. Crews at the landfill next door made the first discovery; a fossil that turned out to be the tusk of a Colombian mammoth. When scientists first arrived, they expected to only find the one fossil. However they soon uncovered many more; nearly 20,000 more in fact over the past 20 years. More than 40 species have been found as well, making it the largest fossil bed from the Pleistocene era in the western United States. The museum is open Tuesday’s through Sundays from 10-4.

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