Cape Breton Fossil Centre

10/16/2026

Another FUN SURPRISE arrived today for our giftshop. (A few months later than expected, but you'll have three more open Saturdays to stock up before we close.) STAY TUNED FOR AN UNBOXING THIS EVENING!

10/12/2026

HALLOWEEN AT THE HERITAGE MUSEUM! This Saturday, October 17th, join us for a spooky guided lantern-lit tour of our (possibly) haunted 125-year-old train station. Enjoy a talk by local horror author Lex Lynn, hear the creepy backstories of some of our most mysterious artifacts on display, and experience the Sydney Mines Heritage Museum after dark (our sister museum, next door to the Fossil Centre). Tickets are $10.00 at the door—come support the museum and kick off your Halloween season with us!

Indicate your interest at the event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19gSn2eTJn/

10/11/2026

THE THINGS WE DO FOR SCIENCE! Hunting for a "lost" fossil in rotting slime... (A good chance to talk about how to record the location of a discovery so you can find it again!)

10/09/2026

OLD MINE! One of the coolest things about doing paleontology in the Sydney coal fields is encountering old mine workings. These illustrate the close historical connections between science and industry. This photo from South Head shows a coastal outcropping of the Emery Seam, a four-foot-thick coal seam that was worked extensively around the Glace Bay area. Old mine openings and timber can be seen in the cliffs, with Dr. Mark MacDougal and his partner in the foreground.

10/06/2026

Awesome initiative from a couple of our lovely peers! Nova Scotia is blessed with such a great group of public facing geology organizations.

10/06/2026

GEODIVERSITY! Today is International Geodiversity Day. Declared by UNESCO in 2021, every Oct. 6 we celebrate the diversity of the Earth's materials and landforms, as well as the crucial role they play in maintaining human and ecosystem health. This year's theme is "Geodiversity on Our Doorstep," which encourages people to "explore and recognize the geological features and everyday utility of the non-living environment right where they live."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtFzkDMsYtI

In Nova Scotia, our complex tectonic and climate history has blessed us with true abundance—from the mines that provide our raw materials and energy, to the fossil legacy of some of the world's first complex forests, to the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the province's highlands and coasts.

What better way to appreciate this diversity than to explore it firsthand? The Maritime Geoscience Map App is a FREE interactive map developed by the Atlantic Geoscience Society (AGS) that brings the region's rich earth history right to your fingertips. It allows you to discover our province's geoheritage from home or use the map to guide you to unexpected destinations in person. [See link the comments!]

Happy Geodiversity Day! :) Atlantic Geoscience Society Fundy Geological Museum Museum of Natural History Joggins Fossil Cliffs

To help support the initiative to establish an International Geodiv...

10/04/2026

All our chairs got moved to the back of our building on the weekend. Please don't this! (They're very heavy and hard for our staff to put back.) On the other hand, if you *must* do it, do it exactly like you did. Because they were arranged very neatly and without any damage.) :)

10/03/2026

Friday night crafting fun! 21 fossil 'u-dig' blocks ready for tomorrow's birthday party (each with real fossil shark teeth). This is batch number four. We're still working out the kinks on the recipe. (Fingers crossed! The last two blocks were accidentally concrete! Not that that stopped determined 8-year-olds.)

​We're still taking bookings for the fall and winter. Note that we'll likely be raising prices to cover labor and materials soon, but will honor bookings made now at the current price. :)

https://forms.gle/kWR8r4t5mBfgtrYFA

10/01/2026

AWARD! Super excited to share that we've been nominated for Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce's Experience Excellence Award!!! This award "recognizes a business or organization that consistently delivers exceptional customer or visitor experiences through outstanding service, quality, and attention to detail." (We strongly believe that we do this in spades, and it feels really good to be noticed!) :-)

09/30/2026

BREAKING NEWS!!! DINOSAUR SPOTTED IN CAPE BRETON. TRICERATOPS CONFIRMED AS CARNIVOROUS! (Loves cats.) This footage was captured last night in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It's unedited and 100% AUTHENTIC. This dinosaur was first reported Oct. 31, 2025 (but we didn't believe it). If you see similar dinosaurs between now and Halloween, send us photos and we'll share on our page!