Leaf-Peeping Through Our Fossil Collections – Dr. Gussie Maccracken

Join Denver Museum of Nature & Science Curator of Paleobotany Dr. Gussie MacCracken for a fascinating virtual tour through the Museum's fossil plant collections. From exquisitely preserved leaves to exciting new discoveries, this special program offers a rare look inside one of the Museum's most remarkable scientific collections and the stories it reveals about Colorado's ancient landscapes.

Fossil leaves are more than beautiful impressions in stone. They serve as detailed records of past environments, helping scientists reconstruct ancient forests, climates and ecosystems that existed millions of years ago. Dr. MacCracken studies fossil plants and the ecological communities they supported, using these clues from deep time to better understand how landscapes respond to environmental change.

During this behind-the-scenes exploration, you'll encounter some of the Museum's most extraordinary fossil specimens, learn about ongoing research and discover how paleobotanists use fossil plants to piece together Colorado's natural history. Along the way, Dr. MacCracken will connect these ancient ecosystems to a familiar seasonal spectacle: Colorado's vibrant fall foliage.

Why do aspen groves blaze gold each autumn? How have Colorado's forests changed through time? And what can fossil leaves reveal about the plants that once thrived here millions of years before humans arrived?

Whether you're a plant lover, fossil enthusiast or simply someone who looks forward to autumn in Colorado, this engaging Museum program offers a fresh perspective on the leaves beneath our feet and the ancient worlds they represent.