Québec National Parks, one of the three magnificent Sépaq Networks

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History

Discovery

A scientist, Abraham Gesner, who was looking for coal, first discovered the site in 1842. His observations went unnoticed and it was not until 1879 that scientists working for the Geological Survey of Canada rediscovered the site. Ensuing excavations, research, and initial descriptions by Ells, Foord, Whiteaves, and Dawson drew the attention of the international scientific community to this cliff on the Gaspé Peninsula.

Foreign scientists

The 20th century saw scientists and collectors come to Miguasha and remove fossil material with the help of local collectors, such as the Plourde family. In Sweden, Great Britain, and the United States, research centres and museums built up collections of fossil fishes and plants. The Swedes removed some 2,000 fossils in the 1920s and founded a leading school of paleontology. At this school, Erik Jarvik emerged as a specialist on Eusthenopteron foordi, the most famous fossil fish at Miguasha.

A turning point

The year 1937 marked a turning point in the site's history. For the first time, fossils were removed to create a Québec-based collection. Also for the first time, efforts were made to preserve the site. René Bureau, in particular, advocated the creation of a park, his name coming up repeatedly in such efforts over the ensuing decades.

Creating the park

In 1972, Québec acquired a representative portion of the Escuminac Formation with a view to preserving its fossil remains. An interpretation centre opened in 1978 and welcomed the first visitors. Meanwhile, Marius Arsenault and his fossil excavation team were further developing the site. In 1985, it was given the status of conservation park, thus ensuring the preservation of its scientific heritage for future generations.

Recent history

In 1990, the increasing flow of visitors led to construction of a new interpretation centre. The inauguration was in June 1991, shortly before the opening of the 7th International Symposium on the Studies of Early Vertebrates, an event that brought together 60 paleontologists from 14 countries. Chairing the symposium was Erik Jarvik, who was then 83 years old. Finally, in December 1999, Parc national de Miguasha was honoured by being added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.