ETSU received a federal grant totaling $8 million for a visitor's center at the Gray Fossil Site in September 2002.

ETSU President Stanton says, "ETSU is entrusted with a rare opportunity and an important responsibility to teach generations of students and visitors lessons about the earth and its inhabitants firsthand. The potential for regional tourism and worldwide recognition for the work going on at Gray is tremendous."

Paleontologist and chief researcher Dr. Steve Wallace says the Gray Fossil site "provides a unique opportunity to bring national recognition to ETSU through research and scholarly activity."

The fossil site was uncovered in 2000 by highway contractors working on State Route 75. Investigations later determined the deposit to be late Miocene in age (between 7-4.5 million years ago). This is the only Miocene site in Appalachia.

The proposed, 33,000-square-foot visitor's center will be adjacent to State Route 75 less than two miles from I-26 in an area that does not intrude on the dig site. The location of the visitors center provides easy access to the site for travelers from the region.

"The entire project will enhance the traveling experience of every interested motorist and tourist that passes through the area," former Governor Don Sundquist said.

The center will include storage space for the fossil collection, a preparation lab, a museum, an education center, and a workshop for display construction and assembly of the fossils.

Funding for the project is made possible from a federal grant through the Tennessee Department of Transportation for enhancing the highway system. The target opening date is in the summer of 2007.

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Used by permission.  For more information visit ETSU's website at: http://www.etsu.edu/grayfossilsite/Interpretive_Center/default.asp