Delaware may be called the First State, but it’s no secret that there were people and critters living here long before the first Europeans set foot on this land. In fact, the evidence is all around us! If you want to see for yourself, go fossil hunting in Delaware near the Reedy Point Bridge and you’ll discover a prehistoric secret right here in your backyard.

As a navigable waterway, the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal dates back to the 1820s.
Facebook / Historical Society of Cecil County
Did you know, though, that millions of years ago this area was home to a completely different type of traffic?
Over 100 million years ago, this area of Delaware was actually the sea floor.
Flickr / Lee Cannon
As time passed, prehistoric sea creatures became fossilized in the formation that currently makes up the canal banks and beds.
The C&D Bike Trail and the Michael Castle Trail are pretty paths that show off the state's scenery.
Flickr / Lee Cannon
If you look closely, though, you'll be able to find fossils that date back millions of years.

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Delaware's State Fossil, the Belemnite, can be found in abundance here.
Flickr / Petr Hykš
Belemnites are prehistoric squid-type critters, and you'll recognize them immediately by their shape.
Other fossilized mollusks, clams, and oysters can be found in these silty sands along the canal.
Flickr / James St. John
Keep your eyes peeled and you never know what you'll find! Fossil hunting is a fun hobby that everyone in the family can enjoy.
Most of these prehistoric fossils date back to the Cretaceous period, between 66 million and 145 million years ago.
Flickr / KCSQuest
Back then, dinosaurs still roamed the earth, and most of the planet was covered in warm ocean water.
The Reedy Point Bridge area is particularly popular for fossil hunters. Try your luck and see if you come home with a 100-million-year-old treasure!
Flickr / Chris Connelly
The area surrounding the Canal is typically managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, but collecting these specimens for your personal collection is permitted.

You can learn more about fossil hunting in Delaware online, here.

The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is located just south of Delaware City, and it divides the state in half. The best fossil hunting is around the Reedy Point Bridge.

Address: Reedy Point Road, Middletown, DE, 19709

While you are in the area, don’t forget to check out This Charming General Store In Delaware That’s Hiding An Incredible Secret.

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