Have you or your kids ever dreamed of being an archaeologist? If so, you’ll love Trammel Fossil Park in Sharonville, a city in the northern part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
The park is named after Mr R.L. Trammel, a local businessman who donated the 10 acre fossil-rich site to the city. His vision was that it could be enjoyed by the public and used for educational purposes.
When you arrive at Trammel fossil park, you’ll see the educational area that was part of Mr Trammel’s dream. There are some seating areas, along with several information boards giving information about geological history and the fossils you might find on the site.
The biggest attraction of Trammel Fossil Park isn’t just reading about fossils though – it’s finding them for yourselves.
You don’t have to bring any tools with you to find fossils, but we decided to bring along a bucket, screwdriver, hammer and a couple of paintbrushes. These helped our dog Truffles play the part of Indiana Bones, Chief Barkeologist for the day.
The fossil park is a rock-covered hillside, so wearing sturdy footwear is more advisable than flip-flops.
The park has signs for each of the formations which correspond to the signs in the educational area. Those explain what types of fossils you should be looking for among the rocks.
It’s not too hard finding fossils in the park – simply turn over some rocks and see what you can find. Some rocks didn’t appear to have anything in them, whereas many others had loads in them, from coral-looking fossils to shells to other kinds.
The good thing about bringing along your own excavation equipment is that you can feel professional even if you have no clue what you’re doing. Kids especially will get a kick out of brushing away the dirt, although I won’t deny that it was fun doing it as an adult too!
We managed to retrieve several fossils on our visit. One of the best aspects of the park is that you’re allowed to take the fossils you find home with you. They just ask that you’re respectful of future visitors and don’t go overboard with how many you take.
Final Thoughts
The Trammel Fossil Park is a great place to spend an hour or two. There’s a lot you can learn from the information boards, while the fossil hunting is a fun activity to go along with that.
The park is therefore perfect for school (or home school) field trips, as well as a free outdoor activity for families.
Address
Trammel Fossil Park, Tramway Dr, Sharonville, OH 45241.
If you have Google Maps on your phone, here’s a link to the parking lot at the fossil park so that you can get directions from wherever you are.
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