Matt About Town: Unearthing hidden fossils from millions of years ago at a popular DC monument

Hunting for fossils at DC's MLK Jr. Memorial

Did you know there are ancient fossils from millions of years ago hidden in the floor panels of the gift shop of a popular D.C. monument?

In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax returns with an installment of his mini series, “Fossil Hunters,” and heads to the Tidal Basin with D.C.’s very own “fossil hunter,” Christopher Barr.

There, the pair unearthed pieces of the past in the unlikeliest of places, next to a memorial to a civil rights icon.

All told, they found about a dozen fossils on their second adventure, with the assistance of some helpers they ran into along the way!

The fossils they found, solidified in the foundations of the gift shop, date back to the time when dinosaurs walked the earth. Take a look at Matt’s video of the experience and stay tuned for future “Fossil Hunters” installments.

“Matt About Town” airs every Tuesday and Thursday on WTOP at 7:45 a.m., and runs throughout the rest of the day on 103.5 FM. His video pieces are always posted on wtop.com.

You can also find Matt’s videos on Instagram (@wtopnews and @mkaufax) and TikTok (@wtopnews and @mattabouttown_).

If you’ve got an idea for a feature story Matt should cover, reach out via the WTOP “contact us” page to submit your idea.

You can also contact Matt directly. His contact information is listed below. 

Check out more of “Matt About Town” on WTOP.

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Matt Kaufax

If there's an off-the-beaten-path type of attraction, person, or phenomenon in the DC area that you think more people should know about, Matt is your guy. As the features reporter for WTOP, he's always on the hunt for stories that provide a unique local flavor—a slice of life if you will.

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