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The Weekend Kicked off February 21 with Dinosaur Train, Followed by the Triumphant Return of Rock and Fossil Fun Fair on February 22 & 23 

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It’s a rock solid success! The New York State Office of Cultural Education is pleased to announce the highly anticipated two-day return of the Rock and Fossil Fun Fair at the New York State Museum, paired with Dinosaur Train programming on Friday, drew a crowd of 5,150 enthusiastic guests over the weekend. After a hiatus since 2020, the free fair allowed visitors to dig into the fascinating world of mineable minerals, rare rocks, and awe-inspiring prehistoric creatures that once roamed our planet.

Highlights from the Rock and Fossil Fun Fair include:

• Thirteen unique interactive stations where young learners could dig for fossils, mine for minerals, and experiment with a river replica.
• Impressive prizes and take-home items, including fossils, minerals, and petrified wood.
• Thirty-five volunteers from the Museum, area institutions, and organizations, including the Capital District Mineral Club.

Michael Mastroianni, Interim Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education said, “The Rock and Fossil Fun Fair has always been one of our most exciting events, and this year was no exception. We’re absolutely thrilled by the community’s unwavering support and the energy that lit up the Museum—especially from young explorers who left with a newfound passion for science and natural history. Our goal is to make the New York State Museum a trusted hub for programming for all New Yorkers, and events like this are proof that we're not just meeting that goal—we're smashing it. A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated staff who made this event possible! We’re excited to keep the momentum going with our upcoming weekday programs and public events that promise even more engaging, educational experiences.”

Guests benefited from interacting with Museum experts, viewed spectacular fossils, meteorites, minerals and rocks from the Museum’s collection, and were encouraged to bring their favorite rocks and fossils for identification.

More information on upcoming events can be found on the New York State Museum Public Programs webpage.

About the Cultural Education Center    

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website.    

The New York State Library is part of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department. Visit the New York State Library website for a complete list of upcoming programs. To receive news, resources, and other updates, please subscribe to the quarterly newsletter.     

The New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 250 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website.     

The Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more.    

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.    

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