A new 3,800-square-foot visitor center at Big Bone Lick State Park in Boone County was dedicated today.

     Commerce Secretary Jim Host was among dignitaries taken part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the building. The center houses the park’s collection of fossilized bones from the site known as the “birthplace of North American paleontology.” Pioneer explorers visiting the salt springs here recovered the bones of animals that scientists later determined to be extinct species, such as mastodons and giant sloths.

      The center, built at a cost of $745,000, also contains a gift shop and park offices. An outdated frame structure previously housed the museum and gift shop, while a small house served as the park offices. Boone County Fiscal Court allocated $127,000 to help underwrite the project.

    In dedicatory remarks, Secretary Host said the new center provides an appropriate facility for such an important historical site. He praised local legislators and county government for their support of the park.

     The project architect was Browning, Day, Mullins & Dierdorf of Indianapolis. The contractor was Arrow Contracting Inc. of Cincinnati.