08/29/2026
As summer winds down, we were delighted to welcome a very special visitor back to the Besser Museum Fossil Park.
Barbara Weber, age 95, and her son Frederick made their annual journey from Bay View near Petoskey to explore our mini quarry in search of Devonian fossils. Barbara first visited the fossil park ten years ago, and even then, at age 85, she impressed us by spending hours hunting for fossils alongside visitors decades younger.
Today, she still carefully scans the quarry floor, taking her time to spot the best specimens. A retired elementary school librarian with a background in anthropology, Barbara's love of learning and discovery has never faded.
When asked if fossil hunting has helped keep her from becoming a fossil herself, Barbara laughs and says, "I've never seen a rock I don't like!" She also loves sharing that these Devonian fossils are older than the dinosaurs.
Barbara's adventurous spirit extends far beyond Michigan. At age 80, she traveled to Patagonia on a fossil-hunting expedition and discovered an ilium bone belonging to a new dinosaur species. Her remarkable find was later written up and presented in Buenos Aires.
Visitors like Barbara remind us that curiosity has no age limit and that the joy of discovery can last a lifetime. Thank you, Barbara and Frederick, for making the Besser Museum part of your fossil hunting adventures.
💙🦕🔎
