Alabama Museum of Natural History

Discovery alert‼️A ~84 million-year-old hadrosaur dinosaur tooth was found by ALMNH director Dr. John Friel during a recent Alabama Museum of Natural History summer trip to shark tooth creek in western Alabama.
#FossilFriday! @friel.bsky.social @almnh.bsky.social #Cretaceous #paleontology #fossil 😀

To celebrate another semester starting at The University of Alabama, we are excited to announce our first-ever students-only Fossil Excursion on August 30! Available at a discounted price ($20/person) for currently enrolled UA students.

REGISTER: ➡️ bit.ly/456DbkJ

Bringing Science to the People and the People to Science The UA summer fossil expeditions are one way the UA community can engage with world class natural history research collections.

Read about how the Alabama Museum of Natural History and The University of Alabama Museums' Department of Museum Research and Collections are fostering a love of fossils and the natural world through community science!

news.ua.edu/2025/07/scie...

#Museums #UniversityOfAlabama #Fossils

As we adventure on July's Fossil Excursions, here's a look back at our trips on June 17 and June 28! Thanks to everyone who joined us on the search for fossils and we look forward to new experiences and findings in July.

Research Alert ‼️ Why were ~50 enigmatic, small crustaceans from the Carboniferous Period found clustered together?

Short News Story: ➡️ bit.ly/44ba40u

For the #4thOfJuly weekend, the Alabama Museum of Natural History will be closed on Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5, 2025 and will reopen on Monday, July 7, 2025. We hope you have a fun and safe holiday weekend.

A lifesize reconstructed Deinosuchus skull mount surrounded by several UA Museums staff members.

Crikey! @almnh.bsky.social received a special delivery from Triebold Paleontology today for #FossilFriday, and museum staff are already bonding with our new life-size #Deinosuchus friend as we get it ready for a future exhibit.

Painting With the Earth: An Interview with John “Jahni” Moore The Alabama Museum of Natural History celebrates the life and contributions of Jefferson Davis Jackson with a permanent exhibition and portrait created by Alabama artist, John “Jahni” Moore. “Mr. J.D.” spent 65+ years of his life working for The University of Alabama formally as a janitor and cook; however, he performed the duties of a geologist, paleontologist, archaeologist, and exhibition designer. As he gave his life to the Museum, he will be permanently honored alongside Eugene Allen Smith in the Grand Gallery. • John “Jahni” Moore: https://jahnitheartist.com/ • Alabama Museum of Natural History: https://bit.ly/3un9MPh • The University of Alabama Museums: https://museums.ua.edu/ • Become a UA Museums Supporting Member: https://bit.ly/3ok8RxB • Become a UA Museums Student Member: https://bit.ly/3gerFsf Credits: • Video Shot and Edited by Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums' Communications Specialist • Music: Magiksolo - Flower Pot | Vicate - Sunchilling #Museums #MuseumExhibition #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Museum #Alabama

At the Alabama Museum of Natural History, we strive to commemorate the past, reflect on the present, and embrace the future. We're excited to share an interview with artist Jahni Moore, the creative behind the Jefferson Davis Jackson portrait in Smith Hall.

WATCH: ➡️ bit.ly/43N3VHP

#Juneteenth

#FossilFriday‼️🦀🦞🦐 Next week, together with Danish colleagues, I am organizing the 9th Symposium on Fossil Decapod Crustaceans in Faxe, Denmark. Abstract and program books are printed. We will welcome everyone starting on Monday! Website: tiny.cc/fx4m001 #fossil @almnh.bsky.social #paleontology

Basilosaurus skeleton in a museum Hall

Say hello to Basilosaurus cetoides, an ancient whale from the Eocene Gulf coast region, and the State Fossil of Alabama! @almnh.bsky.social

Clidastes skull in gray chalk matrix

Broader view of the same specimen

A second jacket, with the posterior part of the body

"Artemis" - a Clidastes specimen from the Mooreville Chalk Formation in Alabama, and one of the most complete mosasaur skeletons (and certainly the best I've seen from the Eastern US) @almnh.bsky.social

‼️Research alert for #FossilFriday‼️ Well-preserved, ~69 million-year-old ammonites from South Dakota show two type of lethal injuries: lateral punch holes and ventral bite marks in 7.3% of the 1303 shells. Crustaceans and coleoids may be the predators. Read more: tiny.cc/wogl001 @almnh.bsky.social

Following the successful opening of the Alabama Museum of Natural History's "Excavating Erasure: Jefferson Davis Jackson" exhibit, the incredible portrait by Jahni Moore is now permanently on display in Smith Hall. We are thrilled to have this incredible memorial on display!

#Tuscaloosa #Alabama

#FossilFriday‼️ 😲 Remarkably large (~20" or 50 cm) ammonite from an Alabama creek exposing Upper Cretaceous sediments. The specimen is still underwater in this photo (see tadpoles 🐸). Specimen @almnh.bsky.social. Discovered by George Martin. #paleontology #fossil #Alabama

When you visit the #Alabama #Museum of Natural History, step inside The Think Tank on the Mezzanine Level of the Grand Gallery! This all-ages space invites you to try on lab coats and goggles, practice using microscopes, and check out our cabinet of curiosities and insect collection.

Electric slide on over to the Alabama Museum of Natural History on May 27 from 5:45 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. for our next dance cardio class with UA Recreation! This totally tubular class will combine fun DAZE moves with hits straight from your Walkman.

REGISTER ➡️ bit.ly/3DI0GqN

#Tuscaloosa #RollTide

We are at the #Tuscaloosa River Market today until Noon so stop by our table to grab one of our brand-new buttons and hear about #Alabama Museum of Natural History exhibits and upcoming events!

#FossilFriday‼️ Cephalopod time! 😀 Internal molds of nautiloid air chambers exposed in a limestone in central Alabama. Nautiloids can be abundant in some Paleocene rocks in the state. Specimen @almnh.bsky.social collection. Discovered by Research Associate Prescott Atkinson. #paleontology #fossil

#FossilFriday‼️ Cephalopod time! 😀 Internal molds of nautiloid air chambers exposed in a limestone in central Alabama. Nautiloids can be abundant in some Paleocene rocks in the state. Specimen @almnh.bsky.social collection. Discovered by Research Associate Prescott Atkinson. #paleontology #fossil

#FossilFriday‼️ Tiny specimens often get overlooked, but they are important parts of ecosystems. Here's a very rare, pyritized, ~82 million-year-old coral from Harrell Station in Alabama. 😲 Collected by Jan Novak during a trip organized for the Birmingham Paleo Society. Specimen @almnh.bsky.social.

😲 #FossilFriday‼️ Not one but two rare, pyritized ammonites were discovered at Harrell Station during a recent trip organized for the Birmingham Paleo Society. The only two non-jaw pieces in the last 5 years! Cretaceous (~82 Ma), Alabama. Collectors: Chase Egli & Adiel Klompmaker @almnh.bsky.social

Our Fossil Excursions are SOLD OUT! If you would like to be put on a waitlist, email kristin.harrell@ua.edu

‼️Student highlight for #FossilFriday‼️ UA Blount Scholars Museum Intern Lilly Roehrig curated a collection of >130 Mississippian-aged crinoids (sea lilies) from Alabama this semester, after a generous donation by Jessica Cost in February. Specimens @almnh.bsky.social collection. #fossil #paleontology

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the opening reception of "Excavating Erasure: Jefferson Davis Jackson"! This new permanent exhibit at the Alabama Museum of Natural History celebrates his life and contributions. We also unveiled a portrait created by Alabama artist, John “Jahni” Moore!

Tonight from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., the Alabama Museum of Natural History will be unveiling a new exhibit focusing on the life and contributions of Jefferson Davis Jackson! We’ll also be debuting a portrait of him created by Alabama artist, John “Jahni” Moore!

MORE INFO: ➡️ bit.ly/4i7Sf6k

🦈 Exquisite Cretaceous shark coprolite (dung) from Harrell Station Paleo Site, Alabama. 😲 Mooreville Chalk, ~82 Ma. Coprolites can tell about the diet of ancient sharks. Specimen: ALMNH:Paleo:2389 @almnh.bsky.social Collector: Brown Hawkins, 1990. #FossilFriday‼️ #fossil #paleontology

55+ gardeners in training are invited to the Alabama Museum of Natural History's Grand Gallery on Saturday, April 19 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. for a free program to learn about basic tools you need for gardening, soil samples, and the proper way to plant!

REGISTER: ➡️ bit.ly/4jfODQo

Light refreshments will be provided including Jackson’s famous barbecue sauce and hand churned ice cream provided by the Gorgas House Museum.

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As Jefferson Davis Jackson gave his life to the Museum, he will permanently be honored alongside Eugene Allen Smith in the Alabama Museum of Natural History Grand Gallery. During the opening, we will be debuting a portrait created by Alabama artist, John “Jahni” Moore.

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Join the Alabama Museum of Natural History on April 18 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. for a free unveiling of our newest permanent exhibition honoring his life and contributions!

LEARN MORE: ➡️ bit.ly/4i7Sf6k

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Jefferson Davis Jackson spent 65+ years of his life working for The University of Alabama formally as a janitor and cook; however, he performed the duties of a geologist, paleontologist, archaeologist, and exhibition designer.

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