Stonerose Fossil Beds

You know, if you've got no plans for the weekend and want something to do that's fun, interesting, and very, very cheap, you might consider traveling 50 million years back in time. All it takes is a trip to Republic and the Stonerose Fossil Beds. There you can whack rocks to your heart's content, and you might even find a cool fossil to take home.

I know what you're thinking: Hours of rock whacking and no fossils. But that's decidedly not the case at this bountiful site. If your experience is typical, you'll be finding fossils soon after you arrive, and with luck -- and persistence -- could even find an intact fish, the fern-like sprig of an early type of sequoia, an insect, legs, wings and all, or any number of twigs and leaves of all shapes and sizes. If you're really lucky, you might even find a perfectly preserved five-petalled stonerose flower, an early ancestor of the roses in your grandmother's garden. The fossil bed is right in town with its own interpretive center across the street, and you don't need to be an expert to dig (though you do need an inexpensive permit). And you really can take the fossils home! (With some rare exceptions, of course.)

These fossils formed when plants and animals fell to the bottom of a huge lake that existed here 50 million years ago, during the Eocene era, and were sandwiched in layer after layer of volcanic ash. Time, temperature and enormous pressure worked their magic on the ashy silt, turning it into a bed of hard rock with thin cracks running throughout in parallel lines. When the larger rocks break apart, they look like tiles. And when you put your chisel blade in one of these tiny cracks and whack the chisel with a hammer, the tiles open like a book, often revealing wonderful fossils inside. The Stonerose Fossil Beds are named for the species of roses found there, but you'll find many other plant species as well. In fact, scientists from all over the world come to the beds because of the new discoveries awaiting them there.

The Stonerose Interpretive Center has devised a unique way to keep the fossil beds open to the public while protecting the scientific finds that continually come out of this site. People who wish to dig must pay admission at the Interpretive Center (just $5 for adults, $3 for ages 12 to18 and for seniors, with children under age 6 free). This small fee gives people permission to dig under the supervision of the curator. If you should happen to make some new discovery (not impossible), the curator will ask that you leave the sample there for further study. Then, you'll get to take home up to three samples yourself. This is not a bad way to keep the public involved in true scientific inquiry while protecting the integrity of the site.

While you're there, take the time to walk downtown Republic. The citizens of Republic have wisely preserved the nineteenth century feel of this charming town, founded when the gold rush was in full swing. Plus, there are several nice restaurants if you forget to pack a picnic for your outing.

So, if you're a parent looking for an outing with the kids, or you're escorting around some visitors from out of town, a trip to Republic makes for an interesting day. For less than ten bucks, a tank of gas and lunch, you can learn something about the fossil record, and feel the thrill of discovery when that plain piece of rock in your hand opens to reveal a 50 million year old treasure inside.

The Stonerose Interpretive Center and Eocene Fossil Site is located at 15 N. Kean St. in Republic by the city park. For information, phone (509) 775-2295, email srfossil@televar.com, or check the Web site at www.stonerosefossil.org. The center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, from May through October. The fossil site closes at 4 p.m.

Welcome to NortheasternWashington.com
A project of The North Columbia Monthly
PO Box 541, Colville, WA 99114
Ph/fx: 509/684-3109
Web site: www.northcolumbiamonthly.com
E-mail: info@northcolumbiamonthly.com

All rights reserved. Copyright 2008-2010.