Whitewater Valley Fossil Hunt

Step back 445 million years with the Whitewater Valley Fossil Hunt in Richmond, Indiana! Long before woolly mammoths roamed the frozen plains, long before dinosaurs existed, Indiana was covered by a shallow sea teaming with life. Today, visitors can discover real fossils from that prehistoric era while exploring the scenic Whitewater Valley. The Whitewater Valley Fossil Hunt is a free, family-friendly passport program that promotes hands-on learning and outdoor adventure across eastern Indiana. Created in partnership with the Wayne County Convention & Tourism Bureau, Earlham College Geology Department, and local volunteers, this unique experience lets you collect fossils, earn a souvenir patch, and explore one of Indiana’s hidden geological treasures. How to participate: • Pick up your Fossil Trail Passport at the Old National Road Welcome Center in Richmond, IN, or download a digital copy online. • Visit fossil-rich sites around the Whitewater Valley and collect at least 5 fossils. • Return to the Welcome Center with your passport and fossils to claim your embroidered Fossil Patch!