A NEW AND IMPROVED FOSSIL EXHIBIT IN BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

Big Bend National Park has produced numerous scientifically-significant fossils from Cretaceous and Cenozoic deposits. These include Quetzalcoatlus (a pterosaur that is the largest known flying creature of all time), the hyper-giant crocodilian Deinosuchus, and various dinosaurs, mammals, invertebrates, and plants. Although Big Bend fossils are displayed at major museums throughout the world, the park does not have an adequate fossil exhibit for public viewing and education.

The park, in collaboration with Friends of Big Bend National Park, has undertaken a major project to construct a new fossil exhibit in Tornillo Flat. Specimens will be grouped in four paleoenvironments represented by Big Bend sedimentary rocks: marine, coastal, inland tropical evergreen forest, and savannah grassland. Although the specimens are impressive in their own right, detailed interpretive messages will provide information on a wide range of topics related to the paleontology and geologic history of the park. It is expected that the new exhibit will be an interesting and enjoyable experience for all visitors to Big Bend National Park and will be a particularly valuable resource for geologists, student field trips, and others interested in earth science.