For Immediate Release:
August 25, 2026
Contact:
Olivia Mitchell
Marketing Manager
Culture & Heritage Museums
www.chmuseums.org
803.792.2572
Unearth the Past at Fossil Fanatics Family Day
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Budding paleontologists and curious explorers are invited to dig into Earth's ancient past at Fossil Fanatics Family Day at Museum of York County on Sat. Sept. 19, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Discover how fossils form and what they can tell us about the past while enjoying hands-on exploration of the museum’s vast fossil collection. The day is packed with fun for all ages from making fossil prints to assembling your own Pangea map. And don’t miss Charleston Fossil Adventures collection of South Carolina fossils from noon until 4 p.m. with a special presentation highlighting the state’s rich fossil record at 1 p.m.
“Microfossils: Tiny Pieces to a Big Puzzle” will also be on view, opening on Fossil Fanatics Family Day. Dinoflagellates, forams, ostracods, and countless other fossils that can barely be seen or not at all, are known as microfossils. “Microfossils help shed light on life in primeval oceans and can even reveal clues about ancient habitats and climate,” says Dr. Steve Fields, Culture & Heritage Museums’ curator. This new exhibit will feature stunning magnified images of tiny microfossil treasures, from pollen to Ice Age fish ear bones, to shark teeth less than two-tenths of an inch!
The new exhibit and Fossil Fanatics Family Day offers visitors the opportunity to explore authentic specimens alongside experts through engaging, hands-on experiences that make science fun and accessible for all ages. Together, they offer a fascinating glimpse into life on Earth long ago while inspiring curiosity about how the past can help us better understand the future.
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WHAT: Fossil Fanatics Family
WHEN: Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Rd., Rock Hill, S.C. 29732
TICKETS: Pre-registration strongly encouraged at chmuseums.org/event/family-day/. Admission is $15 for adults, seniors, and youth. Culture & Heritage Museum members and children under 3 are free.
IMAGES:
- A glimpse into one of the many fossil drawers in Museum of York County’s hands-on Naturalist Center
All images courtesy of Culture & Heritage Museums. Contact omitchell@chmuseums.org for high resolution images.
About Museum of York County:
Museum of York County highlights the world of natural history in the Carolina Piedmont through award-winning exhibits, planetarium shows, and special programs. “Before the Ice Ages: Miocene and Pliocene Beasts of the Southeast” is Museum of York County’s newest permanent exhibit that looks at the strange and bizarre creatures that roamed the southeast before the Ice Ages of the Pleistocene. “Ice Age Carolinas: Exploring Our Pleistocene Past” is a journey-back-in-time experience that features the gigantic and fantastic beasts that once roamed the Carolinas. The Naturalist Center, with over 2,500 natural history specimens, provides hands-on opportunities for self-guided discovery and educational programs. The Settlemyre Planetarium presents a changing array of full-dome digital planetarium shows. The Museum Store has a selection of local handmade pottery and goods, locally produced food products, and nature-themed gifts. Outside, the museum has a picnic facility and a three-quarter mile nature trail.
Museum Membership:
Become a Culture & Heritage Museums member and enjoy one year of exclusive benefits including free general admission to all CHM museum sites: Historic Brattonsville, Museum of York County and Main Street Children’s Museum. Membership helps support the work of preserving and communicating the cultural and natural history of the Carolina Piedmont. Consider becoming a CHM member and/or give the gift of CHM membership. Details at chmuseums.org/membership.
Museums for All:
As part of the Museums for All initiative, all Culture & Heritage Museum sites provide reduced admission for low-income families; visit museums4all.org for more information. Culture & Heritage Museum sites are also KultureCity® Certified and Sensory InclusiveTM.