HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF PALEONTOLOGICAL HERITAGE: A U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PERSPECTIVE

The conservation, preservation, and stewardship of fossil resources and localities by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) have expanded opportunities for public engagement, education, outreach, recreation, tourism, scientific research, and other diverse human interests associated with America’s paleontological heritage. Collectively, the fossil record of NPS properties spans nearly two billion years and has been systematically documented in at least 286 designated parks, 58 National Natural Landmarks, and 22 National Historic Landmarks. The scientific and historic values of fossils found on NPS properties exemplify globally significant components of both natural and cultural heritage. The human dimensions of paleontological resources are revealed in prehistoric archeological sites yielding evidence of early Indigenous Americans’ interest and use of fossils. The discovery of fossils during the western expansion across the continent in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, recorded by fur traders and members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, are directly tied to the early history and birth of vertebrate paleontology in North America. Paleontological resource conservation and advocacy by individuals and groups led to the protection and formal designation of several national monuments such as Petrified Forest in Arizona, Florissant Fossil Beds in Colorado, and Tule Springs Fossil Beds in Nevada. To celebrate America’s paleontological heritage, National Fossil Day was established in 2010 by the NPS, American Geosciences Institute, and other partners to promote the scientific, educational, and other values of fossils. Each October, National Fossil Day events hosted at museums, fossil sites, and in classrooms across the U.S. have expanded our understanding of the human dimensions of paleontological resources and has instilled pride in America’s paleontological heritage.