Grand Opening and Dedication

OPLI Field Center

We threw a party to celebrate the occasion on Saturday, September 12th.

Scroll down for some pictures of the event:

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Thanks and tokens of gratitude for the student sculptors.

   


Ribbon cutting ceremony with OPLI Board members

   


Greg Kovulchuk relates his experience
in discovering the partial jaw of a Plesiosaur.

   


Judge Jeanne Burch cuts the ribbon

 


Meet the sculptor! (Larry Williams)

 


Dr. Ellen Bishop discusses climate change.

 


Director Anne Mitchell welcomes all to the event.

 


Dr. Bishop chats with Greg Kovulchuk

 


Digging for fossils.

 


Prizes!

 


All ages event!

 



  Live music on the Deck

 

A Brief History of the Field Center
After an extensive search for the best location, and discussions with the Fossil School District and several property owners, the OPLI board selected a location that would make an extraordinary campus near the historic Wheeler County Courthouse.

Wheeler County purchased an existing house across the street from the Court House at 805 Adams in Fossil. Major funding for new construction was provided by a $246,000 appropriation from the U.S. Department of Commerce, secured by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. The Groundbreaking Ceremony took place on August 3, 2008 with Senator Wyden turning the first golden shovel of soil. The OPLI Field Center construction was completed in late June 2009.