Gray Fossil Museum

The 33,000 square foot fossil museum in Gray, TN is now open -- and full of amazing sights. The building itself is architecturally beautiful -- it's modern "building block" design somehow works to compliment the prehistoric artifacts and exhibits within. The price of admission is right: FREE! That's the price for a self-guided tour of the permanent exhibits. For a guided tour of the museum and the actual fossil site the cost is $5 for adults, $4 for those age 65 and older and $3 for children ages 5-12. Check out their new website!

Directions: From I-26, take exit 13 (Gray), turn left onto Route 75 (Bobby Hicks Highway) and travel for 1.8 miles. The museum is on your left. The ETSU and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum and Visitors Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gray Fossil Site

It doesn't open until August, but already it's a sight to see. After fossils were discovered in 2000 during the widening of the nearby highway, plans were made for a natural history museum outside of Gray, TN. Scientists estimate the fossils are 4.5 to 7 million years old. If the museum exhibits are even half as interesting as the building itself, they'll have quite an amazing attraction for Washington County and East Tennessee. For more information, click here and here and here.

Directions: From I-26, take exit 13 (Gray) and head west (turn left, away from town) on Route 75 (Bobby Hicks Highway) for 1.8 miles. The museum is on your left.