Walcott-Rust quarry

The Walcott-Rust quarry is a paleontological site in Herkimer County, New York, where abundant trilobite fossils are found in limestone layers. These deposits formed in ancient ocean environments and preserve specimens with remarkable detail and intact body parts.

Excavation at this site began in 1860 when Charles Doolittle Walcott and William Palmer Rust started collecting specimens. Their work led to groundbreaking discoveries that revealed the true structure of these ancient marine creatures.

The specimens collected here have become important teaching tools in universities and museums around the world. They help people understand what ancient marine environments were really like millions of years ago.

Access to the site requires permission and is generally reserved for researchers and educators to protect the fossils. Those interested in visiting should contact local institutions or organizations that manage paleontological education programs in the area.

The limestone layers here have a rare quality: they preserved trilobite appendages and legs that normally disappear during fossilization. This exceptional preservation makes it possible to see exactly how these animals were structured and how they moved.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 43.27720,-75.13890

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:01