Date: Saturday, October 15, 2011
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Place: Lilydale Regional Park
The Twin City Chapter of Minnesota Master Naturalists invites you to join us for fossil hunting and tour of Lilydale Regional Park in St. Paul.
Our guide, Pete Cleary, is an experienced naturalist at Dodge Nature Center. This 636 acre park is covered by floodplain forest. However, you will spot urban tree and shrub species, such as spruces and lilacs, mixed in with typical floodplain forest trees. These seemingly out-of-place species hint at the area’s urban history.
Lilydale Regional Park has a unique area of note called “The Brickyard” within it. The Brickyards of St. Paul is the location of the former Twin City Brick Company. The location historically is significant as its artifacts of kiln and mining pits signal a change in building practices using primarily fire-prone wood construction to the use of brick. The Brick Yard is also known for its fossils. 450 million years ago much of Minnesota was under 100 – 150 feet of water. The life contained in this ancient ocean resembled a tropical offshore environment consisting of corals, clams, snails and the familiar seashells of brachiopods. Fossils are now exposed because of the excavation operations done due to the brick manufacturing occurred here.
Because this trip requires a fossil hunting permit from the city of St. Paul, Master Naturalists will be asked to contribute $2.00 on the day of the trip to cover this cost.
Register before October 7th by contacting Jeanne Jensen at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
A map will be sent to you when you register. We will meet in the parking lot. You might want to bring a small hammer or pick as well as a bag to carry your fossils.