Fossil Collections
DonateThe fossil record of Santa Cruz County paints a picture of a landscape that has changed numerous times in the past millennia. This history can seen be from our coastal cliffs to the peaks of our mountains, and most importantly, in our well-preserved Museum collections.
Preserving Our Past
About Our Fossil Collections
Beginning in 1905 with the collection of founder Laura Hecox, both amateur and professional paleontologists have helped build a collection that spans the distinct fossil past of our region. This collection contains over 1500 specimens, from microfossils of marine invertebrates to the recently fossilized bones of Ice Age megafauna. The preservation of this collection allows researchers and visitors alike to trace relationships between extinct species and learn how changing climates have shaped the land we exist upon today.
Exploring Recent Fossil Finds
