The Coon Creek Science Center in northern McNairy County near Adamsville announced its schedule for Community Days, providing opportunities for people to explore the famed fossil site.
The Community Days for the remainder of the year will be on Saturday, Oct. 17; Saturday, Nov. 21; and Saturday, Dec. 19. Each Community Day offers programs starting at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and costs $20 per person.
The University of Tennessee at Martin geology program’s instructors and students help with the educational and research aspect of the site.
Community Day includes information on the geological history of the area, a creek walk through the Cretaceous sea floor, fossil collecting and a demonstration on how to preserve fossils.
All visits to the Cook Creek Science Center must be done by reservation. Groups of 10 or more can be arranged.
The Coon Creek Science Center marked the 100th anniversary of the first published paper on the fossil finds in the area earlier this year. Today, the Coon Creek Science Center remains a place of discovery and scientific wonder and learning, particularly of fossils of species from the Upper Cretaceous Period, 66 to 100 million years ago.
In April 2020, the museum turned over all facilities and operations at the site to UT Martin as part of a 40-year lease agreement. The museum maintains ownership of the land, while UT Martin controls operations of the site.
For reservations and general information about Coon Creek Science Center, call the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer at 731-646-1636 or email cooncreek@utm.edu. Information about Coon Creek can be found at www.utm.edu/ccsc.
For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 731-881-7000.
PHOTO: This photo of a school visit in November 2024 to the Coon Creek Science Center shows Joshua Ratliff, the Coon Creek Science Center program director, holding the jawbone of a mosasaur found at Coon Creek for students to see.
