October 18th is National Fossil Day. This is why we suggest taking a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History which is just a 15-minute drive from your Courtland Park apartment. We want to share some information about the Smithsonian as well as some facts about fossils. We hope you enjoy the blog and get a chance to visit the museum this month and celebrate Fossil Day here in Arlington, VA.
The word fossil comes from the Latin word fossilis which means “dug up”. Much of what we’ve learned about dinosaurs and other ancient living species have come from what fossils that have been found. Fossils are still teaching us all about history. “Fossils are the remains of ancient animals and plants, the traces or impressions of living things from past geologic ages, or the traces of their activities... Most fossils are excavated from sedimentary rock layers… Eventually, they are compressed into sedimentary rock. The fossil of a bone doesn't have any bone in it. A fossilized object has the same shape as the original object, but is chemically more like a rock.”
“The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s preeminent museum and research complex. The Museum is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collections, exhibitions, and education outreach programs.”
Visit The Last American Dinosaurs: Discovering a Lost World exhibit where you can see fossils that were found that make up some amazing dinosaurs. Or visit The David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins where you can also see ancient species. This time it’s the species that evolved into humans. You can find all kinds of other great exhibits to visit about animals, science, humans, and more. Visit the museum to learn about some of these amazing topics. Enjoy!
Have you visited the Smithsonian? What’s your favorite thing about visiting? Comment below and let us know. Thanks for reading and enjoy your visit to The Smithsonian.