EXPANDING GEOHERITAGE AWARENESS AS A CENTRAL THEME IN NEW TRAIL EXHIBITS AND VIDEOS AT FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument has been a leader in developing Geoheritage as a new concept to connect the cultural and societal values of people with the geological landscape and fossil record of life on Earth. The Monument provides the case-study chapter for Geoheritage management in North America in a recent international textbook on Geoheritage. Its active paleontology program links the public to the process of geological research as a means for understanding our human heritage in a scientific context. Other viewpoints for understanding the connection between people and the Earth stem from a recent ethnographic survey actively involving members of Native American tribes traditionally affiliated with the area. The historic association of settlers and landowners with the fossils at Florissant provides further perspectives about the significant relation of geology to the early economic livelihood of local citizens and entrepreneurs. The recognition in the late 19^th century of Florissant’s paleontological significance attracted scientists and tourists worldwide. Florissant’s Geoheritage provided the basis for a benchmark legal case in the inception of environmental law. This deep and varied history linking people to geology is the underpinning for new interpretive media developed during 2019-20 to utilize Geoheritage as a unifying conceptual theme. This prompts visitors to consider their own individual perspectives toward geological heritage along with the diversity of others, which in turn may lead to shared stewardship of such resources. Scientific perspectives for understanding the geology are provided by a new mobile application that expands on trail exhibit content at various user-selected levels of complexity, which allows visitors to connect with geologic resources according to their background. The new trail exhibit panels and park theater film exemplify the diversity of peoples over the decades who have had unique connections and viewpoints related to the geologic landscape, including Native Americans, settlers, landowners, scientists, students, tourists, politicians, and lawyers. These new media provide a perspective for park visitors to contemplate their connection to these geological resources by introducing them to the concept of Geoheritage.