July 22, 2004
Burke to host family fossil day
Fossils will be the focus in a special family event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 31 at the Burke Museum. Visitors can learn about fossils, watch scientists work with fossils and even see how fossils are unearthed and prepared for exhibiting.
The event will feature a table dedicated to answering the question “What is a fossil?” and a chance to view fossils from the Burke collections that rarely go on display. At the Fossil Preparation Station, visitors will be able to see demonstrations of fossils being chipped and chiseled out of stone. Hands-on activities for children will include fossil rubbings, fossil molds, and a fossil treasure hunt. Author Kelly Milner-Hall also will be on hand for a reading from her book, Dinosaur Mummies: Beyond Bare Bones Fossils, at noon and 2 p.m.
The family day’s activities also will include tours of the popular exhibit, Dinosaurs of Darkness, led by Liz Nesbitt, curator of paleontology at the Burke Museum, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Dinosaurs of Darkness, a riveting exhibit from Australia, features recently discovered dinosaurs that lived in the extreme polar regions of the globe. These unusual dinosaurs of Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska and Russia lived where darkness reigned in winter and temperatures plunged below freezing.
Visitors also can see models, fossil bones, and paintings and full skeletons that tell the fascinating story of how dinosaurs lived in these cold, dark places. Dinosaurs of Darkness is on view through Oct. 17.
The Burke Museum, located at the corner of NE 45th St and 17th Ave NE, is open from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and until 8 p.m. Thursday. Admission is $8 general, $6.50 for seniors and $5 for students/ youth. Admission is free to children 4 and under, Burke members, UW students, faculty and staff. Admission also is free to the public on the first Thursday of each month. For a complete calendar of events or for more information, call
206-543-5590, or visit www.burkemuseum,org.
