JOHNSON CITY — The East Tennessee State University Museum of Natural History and Hands On! Discovery Center will celebrate National Fossil Day on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Gray Fossil Site.

National Fossil Day highlights the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations.

The day will include a variety of activities and demonstrations for all ages. Led by ETSU scientists and students and Gray Fossil Site volunteers, visitors will be able to take a tour of the site, see Appalachian fossils up close, and learn how paleontologists use the latest technology for the preservation and research of fossils.

This year’s event will also feature visiting scientists and students from Appalachian State University and the University of Tennessee.

All National Fossil Day activities are free to the public. All activities are also included with admission to the Hands On! Discovery Center, which is $10 for adults and children 4 and older.

The Gray Fossil Site is a one-of-a-kind paleontological resource preserving the remains of hundreds of extinct species that lived in East Tennessee 5 million years ago. Discovered in 2000 during road construction, the site is now home to the ETSU Museum of Natural History and the Hands On! Discovery Center. It is a hub of education and scientific research.

For more information, see visithandson.org/visit/ or call 423-434-4263.