Step Into a 400-Million-Year-Old Ocean

When most people think of Northern Michigan adventures, they picture beaches, forests, and freshwater lakes. But in Alpena, you can add something truly unexpected to that list: fossil hunting in the remains of an ancient tropical sea. At the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, visitors of all ages can dig, discover, and take home fossils that date back more than 350 million years—long before the Great Lakes existed.

The museum offers two separate Fossil Park experiences, both designed to give visitors a hands-on look at Michigan’s prehistoric past. Whether you’re a family looking for an educational outing or an adventurer eager to uncover ancient marine life, the Fossil Parks at Besser Museum are a must-do stop in Northeast Michigan.

Two Fossil Parks, One Incredible Experience

Besser Museum’s Fossil Parks feature fossil-rich limestone generously donated by Lafarge (Holcim) Alpena Plant and Specification Stone Products of Alpena. Each park offers a slightly different experience, but both invite visitors to dig into Devonian-era history.

The Backyard Fossil Park (Museum Admission Required)

Located directly behind the museum, this Fossil Park is included with regular museum admission and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. The park is closed during winter months due to snow coverage.

This fossil dig area feels like a simulated limestone quarry, allowing visitors to experience what it’s like to uncover fossils just as geologists and quarry workers do in the region.

The Free Public Fossil Park

On the west side of the museum, at the back of the parking lot, you’ll find a second Fossil Park that’s free and open to the public from dawn to dusk, depending on weather conditions. This park is also closed during winter months but offers an accessible option for visitors who want to fossil hunt without museum admission.

Both parks allow visitors to keep the fossils they find, making this a rare and memorable hands-on experience.

What You’ll Find: Fossils from the Devonian Period

The fossils found at Besser Museum tell the story of a time when Michigan sat near the equator and was submerged beneath a warm, shallow tropical ocean. This period—known as the Devonian Period—occurred roughly 416–358 million years ago and is often called the Age of the Fishes.

As glaciers moved through the region millions of years later, they stripped away layers of sediment, exposing fossil-rich limestone packed with prehistoric marine life, including:

  • Brachiopods – Shell-bearing marine animals often mistaken for clams
  • Crinoids – Sea lilies related to modern starfish
  • Corals – Evidence of massive ancient reef systems
  • Bryozoans – Tiny colonial filter feeders
  • Trilobites – Rare but highly prized finds for fossil hunters

How to Prepare for Your Fossil Hunt

Your visit will be most enjoyable if you come prepared. Fossil hunting is hands-on—and a little messy—in the best way possible.

What to Bring:

  • Sturdy shoes suitable for uneven terrain
  • Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
  • A small trowel for prying fossils loose
  • A water bottle (great for loosening hardened soil)
  • A tote or bucket for carrying your fossil finds

Why Fossils Matter Here

Limestone is abundant in Northeast Michigan and plays a major role in both geology and industry. It’s the main ingredient in cement, which makes concrete—the second most consumed substance on Earth, after water.

At Besser Museum, fossil hunting isn’t just about collecting—it’s about understanding how ancient environments shaped the landscape we explore today. Interpretive signage throughout the Fossil Parks helps explain this history, including artwork created by students from Lincoln Elementary as part of a place-based education project.

Keep the Adventure Going: More Fossil Sites Nearby

Besser Museum is just the beginning of Northeast Michigan’s fossil-hunting opportunities.

  • Rockport State Recreation Area – An abandoned limestone quarry where visitors can collect up to 25 pounds of fossils per year, including Petoskey stones and gastropods.
  • Rogers City Quarry – View one of the world’s largest operating limestone quarries and visit the downtown fossil park.
  • Downtown Alpena Shoreline – Explore limestone boulders at Bay View, Mich-e-ke-wis Park, and the Alpena Small Boat Harbor for brachiopods and occasional trilobites.

A Hands-On Way to Connect with Pre-Historic Times

The Fossil Parks at Besser Museum offer something rare: the chance to touch, uncover, and take home a piece of Michigan’s ancient past. It’s equal parts adventure, education, and discovery—perfect for curious minds of all ages.

If you’re ready to dig even deeper, pair your visit with a trip to Rockport State Recreation Area for an unforgettable fossil-hunting weekend along Lake Huron.