Riker Hill Fossil Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Riker Hill Fossil Site |
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| Walter Kidde Dinosaur Park | |
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 Riker Hill Fossil Site
Location in Essex County, New Jersey
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| Location | Essex County, New Jersey |
| Nearest city | Livingston |
| Area | 16 acres (6.5 ha) |
| Established | 1970 |
| Designated: | 1971 |
The Riker Hill Fossil Site, also known as Walter Kidde Dinosaur Park, is a special place in New Jersey, United States. It covers about 16 acres (6.5 hectares) and is located in Roseland, near Livingston. This site is famous for having many dinosaur footprints. It is one of the most important places in the United States where dinosaur tracks have been found. In June 1971, it was named a National Natural Landmark.
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Discovering Dinosaur Footprints
Originally, the Riker Hill Fossil Site was part of a large stone quarry owned by the Kidde company. This quarry was called Roseland Quarry. In 1968, something amazing was found there: dinosaur footprints!
How a Teenager Helped Save the Site
When news of the dinosaur tracks spread, a 14-year-old named Paul E. Olsen became very interested. Paul lived in Livingston, New Jersey. He and his friend Tony Lessa started visiting the quarry often. They wanted to study the tracks.
Over a few years, Paul and Tony found more than a thousand tracks. These tracks were not just from dinosaurs. They also found footprints from other animals and even insects! These fossils came from a very long time ago, during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods.
Saving the Dinosaur Tracks Forever
The future of the quarry was uncertain. Paul and Tony worried that the land might be built on. They came up with a plan to protect the site. They made a cast of a large dinosaur footprint. This footprint was from a dinosaur called Eubrontes giganteus.
They sent this cast to President Richard Nixon to ask for his help. Their efforts worked! The quarry was divided. The part with the most dinosaur tracks was saved. It was given to the Essex County Park Commission and named after Walter Kidde. The rest of the quarry was later used to build apartments. In June 1971, the protected site officially became a National Natural Landmark.
Visiting the Site Today
Today, the Riker Hill Fossil Site is part of the Riker Hill Complex. This complex also includes the Riker Hill Art Park and Becker Park. For many years, people were allowed to collect fossils at the site. However, now access to the site is limited to protect these important historical treasures.
Images for kids
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Walter Kidde Dinosaur Park
