NPS Photo / Diana Boudreau Visitors Welcome!Open Wednesday through Friday from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm(Schedule can change without notice. Please call to confirm hours.) The Museum Demonstration Lab at the Painted Desert Visitor Center is where you can see one-of-a-kind fossils from Petrified Forest National Park being prepared by trained paleontologists! Peek through the window to see fossils from the museum collection. Watch a live microscope feed on the TV as paleontologists remove rock from fossil bone. Chat with scientists via a two-way, hands-free speaker. Dig DeeperPaleontologists at Petrified Forest actively work with outside researchers to reconstruct a detailed history of life during the Late Triassic, and exciting new research has resulted in multiple published research articles in just the last few years. The Museum Demonstration Lab has been THE primary place for park staff to share these scientific discoveries with visitors, often showcasing the fossils themselves before they go on exhibit or into collections. The diversity and exceptionality of fossils in the Museum Demonstration Lab and direct interaction with paleontologists is what makes it a must see for visitors coming to Petrified Forest.
Join Petrified Forest Paleontologists for a "Day in the Life" An 8 part mini-series created for a virtual National Fossil Day event to show what happens to a fossil from grave to cradle. Become a Junior Paleontologist! Discover, learn about, and protect park fossils by completing the activity booklet and earn your Junior Paleontologist badge. Celebrate National Fossil Day at Petrified Forest See what events are happening at Petrified Forest for the annual National Fossil Day celebration. Small but Mighty: Petrified Forest National Park's Public Fossil Preparation Lab Grows Despite COVID-19 Pandemic A brief article highlighting the changes to the Museum Demonstration Lab during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond! |
Last updated: March 31, 2025