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Toronto Fossil Gallery Explores Four Billion Years of Earth History

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TorontofossilsDawn of Life

Visitors to Toronto can explore the Willner Madge Gallery, Dawn of Life at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Located on Level 2, the gallery is included with museum admission and is free for members.

Toronto Fossil Gallery Explores Four Billion Years of Earth History

Spanning nearly 10,000 square feet, the exhibition features close to 1,000 fossil specimens, with over 60 percent originating from Canada. Exhibits range from tiny trilobites to large sea-scorpions, covering a timeline of about 4 billion years across the Precambrian, Cambrian, Ordovician-Silurian-Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, and Triassic periods.

The display includes a rock from northern Québec estimated to be between 3.7 and 4.2 billion years old, containing early evidence of life. The gallery also highlights fossils from four Canadian UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Mistaken Point in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Burgess Shale in Yoho and Kootenay National Parks in British Columbia, Miguasha National Park in Québec, and the Joggins Fossil Cliffs in Nova Scotia.

Toronto Fossil Gallery Explores Four Billion Years of Earth History

Exhibition Features:

Toronto Fossil Gallery Explores Four Billion Years of Earth History

  • Nearly 1,000 fossil specimens

  • Animations and artist reconstructions

  • Hands-on interactive displays

  • Immersive digital technologies depicting ancient environments

The space presents evolutionary milestones and fossil records from all Canadian provinces and territories.

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