The Aurora Fossil Museum is located on Main Street in downtown Aurora, NC. Just minutes away is the famous "Lee Creek" phosphate mine that fossil collectors from all over the world come to collect. The AFM houses an impressive collection of fossil material collected from the Lee Creek mine, as well as specimens on loan or donated from all over the world. Visitors are welcome to purchase various fossil specimens as well as souvenirs in the gift shop.

Additional information such as address and hours of operation can be found at:

Special Friends of the Museum
Become a member of the Friends of the Museum club and realize the great benefits involved including meeting some really fascinating people. You'll have opportunities to volunteer your time and talents, as well as participate in club sponsored fossil activities such as fields trips, fossil fairs, educational events, and more! Click on the "Friends Club" link located in the menu at left.

Museum Special Events
One of the most popular special events that has taken place now for the last several years is the annual Aurora-Richland Fossil Festival. The festival is usually held in late May of each year, and takes place right in downtown Aurora along mainstreet and neighboring streets. The festival is free and runs most of the day. It includes fun, food, and fossils for folks of all ages and backgrounds. Various Paleontology and Geology clubs from all over the country decend on Aurora to put up their displays and exhibits. Museum specialists from various state museums and the Smithsonian Institution are on hand to provide lectures and help identify fossils. The annual fossil auction is a favorite of many because it provides an opportunity to get some good bargains on some really awesome fossils, and at the same time helps to raise funds for the museum. These funds are then used for a wide variety of things from education to building new displays and exhibits within the museum. Be sure to check the "Events" section of the AFM website for dates and other details.

Virtual Tour
Take a virtual tour of the Aurora Fossil Museum by scrolling through the pictures below. The tour starts at the gift shop, located at the entrance to the museum, and continues on through the various exhibits. Enjoy the tour, but if possible, visit the museum in person and even sample the fossil materials across the street in the "Pungo Pit".

The AFM Gift Shop

Making a purchase in the gift shop ...

Paleo discussions in the gift shop ...

A close up of some of the fossils for sale...

A nice selection of shells, bones, teeth ...

Those are some huge Ecphora's ...

Those are some awesome Megalodons too ...

American Lion on display ...

This is a huge Whale vertebra (see quarter in lower left of case).

The Megalodon ...

The Shark Tooth Dentition Gallery.

Lee Creek Megalodons

Lee Creek Megalodons

Lee Creek Megalodons

Angustidens (left) .......................Megalodon Vertebra (right)

Artificial Megalodon Dentition

Pathological Megalodons

Cast of associated Parotodus benedini (False Mako)

New gallery of whale, seal, dolphin, invertebrates, etc...

Whale and porpoise material on display.

An amazing specimen on display.

Walrus skull with tusks.

Seal Jaw with teeth.

Squalodon teeth.

Awesome skull.

Nice Seal teeth (incisors).

Pilot Whale teeth

Puffer Fish bones.

Stingray Scutes.

Look at all those shells !

Some shells up close.

Whelk shells.

And there's a whole gallery of Artifacts.

Artifacts.

Artifacts.

Artifacts.

Artifacts.

An aerial view of the museum with Park and "Pungo Pit"
located across the street.

Hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of the Aurora Fossil Museum. It really only represents a small glimpse into what the museum has to offer. To fully appreciate it and take in all of the fossils on display, I highly recommend a visit in person. Don't forget to bring a few empty buckets with you too. You can fill them up with the rich Pungo fossil material from the "Pungo Pit" across the street from the museum. It's fun to go through at home and find all sorts of interesting shark, fish, whale, porpoise, stingray, etc. fossils.

Got questions or comments? send an email to: Daryl Serafin

Support the Aurora Fossil Museum !