Artist Ray Troll and paleontologist Kirk Johnson created these videos on a recent roadtrip through Washington State, exploring the fossil record of the American west.

Gingko Petrified Forest: Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway
Paleontologist Kirk Johnson visits the Gingko Petrified Forest near Vantage, WA and discusses how petrified wood is formed.

Million-Year-Old Salmon: Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway
Paleontologist Kirk Johnson unearths a fossilized sockeye salmon that is one million years old!

Pancakes and Geology: Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway
Paleontologist Kirk Johnson and artist Ray Troll give a lesson in geologic formations over a pancake breakfast near Vantage, Washington.

Searching for Concretions: Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway
Paleontologist Kirk Johnson and artist Ray Troll find fossils of marine animals inside concretions along the Olympic coast in Washington State.

Ray Troll's Artistic Process: Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway
A look at artist Ray Troll's artistic process throughout the creation of the Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway exhibit.

Reading Rock Layers: Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway
Paleontologist Kirk Johnson discusses how to read layers of sediment at Boot Hill fossil site near Republic, WA.

Paleontology Meets Art: Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway
Paleontologist Kirk Johnson discusses the need for art and science to work together.