There are some places that are so incongruous. The Rockford Fossil Quarry in north central Iowa is just such a place. It is only one of three public fossil collecting sites in the nation.
Here’s a fine example of the kinds of fossils you can easily find.
The town in quite proud of it’s claim to fame, as it is proclaimed not as “Home of Devonian Fossils” but Home of THE Devonian Fossils”
The landscape has a decidedly western feel to it – something you’d expect to see in South Dakota or Wyoming, not surrounded by corn fields.
Martin readies to pluck a 370 million year old fossil exposed to the light for the first time in a LONG time!
Martin showing off one of his finds.
Again, Linda and Emma collecting on a Badlands-looking outcrop.
Mud cracks – nothing screams the desert west more than these!
The quarry was originally home to these beehive kilns that were used to make bricks.
A waste pile of bricks leftover from when the kilns shut down. I think they’ve got a bit of an artistic look to them, much like Tiffany glass patterns popular in Frank Lloyd Wright homes.
Those kilns are beautiful! Fossil-hunting was one of our family;s favorite summer adventures when our kids were younger. We’ll have to check out the Rockford Quarry someday.