286 units of the National Park Service (NPS) contain paleontological resources. 16 were established wholly or in part due to their fossils.
Historical Chronology edit
The history of paleontological work across the NPS predates the agency's establishment. These contributions can be organized according to the following framework established by NPS Senior Paleontologist, Vincent Santucci.[1]
Colonial and Early National Period, 1492–1800 edit
Antebellum through the American Civil War, 1800-1865 edit
Early National Parks and Monuments Period, 1865-1916 edit
First 50 Years of the NPS, 1916-1966 edit
Fossils, Parks, and the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942 edit
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was initiated in 1933 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal in order to provide manual labor jobs in the wake of the Great Depression. This work took place primarily on public lands, including national parks. Workers gained increased morale and employability while performing conservation tasks such as forestry, construction of infrastructure, and natural resource management. These efforts by the CCC resulted in increased exposure to or discovery of fossils in NPS units.
Second 50 Years of the NPS, 1966-2016 edit
The first annual National Fossil Day was organized in 2010 by Vincent Santucci.
The Second Century of the NPS, 2016-present edit
Beginning in 2020, the Paleontology in the Parks Fellowship Program, a collaboration between the NPS and the Paleontological Society, was started to address fossil needs in parks across the US.
Fossil Parks edit
References edit
- ^ Santucci, Vincent (January 2017). "Preserving fossils in the national parks: a history". Earth Sciences History. 36 (2): 245–285. Bibcode:2017ESHis..36..245S. doi:10.17704/1944-6178-36.2.245.