Found a rock that looks like a dinosaur fossil? Snapped a photo of a bird you don’t recognize? Our scientists will examine your object and give their best identification during ID Day.

Bring in clean, dry bones, fossils, rocks, meteorites, seashells, and artifacts, as well as photographs of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects, for our experts. Please leave anything that’s alive (or was recently) at home!

Nothing to bring in? We'll have specimens on display for you to see and touch.

This year, ID Day will also feature a poster-making station for the Climate Strike, a youth-led movement advocating for science and climate solutions. We’ll provide supplies for a poster that you can then bring to the Climate Strike on Friday, September 20.

Illinois residents enjoy free Basic admission on ID Day.

Click here for complete details.