Coon Creek Science Center
Adamsville, Tennessee
cretaceous marine fossilsmollusk shellsshark teeth
Fee dig · Fee
Coon Creek Science Center
Coon Creek is one of North America's great Late Cretaceous shell beds - 240 acres near Adamsville where seventy-million-year-old mollusks come out of the clay with their shell layers intact. The Museum of Science & History owns the property and has leased it to the University of Tennessee at Martin since 2020 for field research and education, so visits mean a booked program that puts you in the excavation with proper technique rather than turning you loose. Ask at booking what you may take home: the keep-policy is not published, and research material stays with the collection.
The card catalog
| What you can find | cretaceous marine fossils, mollusk shells, shark teeth |
|---|---|
| Access | Fee dig — Fee |
| Fees | program fees are not published online; access is by scheduled program only, booked through UT Martin's center at (731) 646-1636 |
| Season & hours | educational programs run year-round by arrangement; there is no walk-in collecting, so everything goes through a booked visit |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Programs are open to visitors of all ages and the site is one of the friendliest fossil beds anywhere - shells lift straight out of soft clay with the nacre still shining. Confirm the minimum age and what children may keep when you book. |
| Official source | Museum of Science & History, Memphis |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Before you go
What does Coon Creek Science Center cost?
program fees are not published online; access is by scheduled program only, booked through UT Martin's center at (731) 646-1636 Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Coon Creek Science Center open?
educational programs run year-round by arrangement; there is no walk-in collecting, so everything goes through a booked visit Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Coon Creek Science Center good for kids?
Yes — Coon Creek Science Center works for families. Programs are open to visitors of all ages and the site is one of the friendliest fossil beds anywhere - shells lift straight out of soft clay with the nacre still shining. Confirm the minimum age and what children may keep when you book.