A NEW NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AND VISITORS CENTER AT A FOSSIL SITE IN GRAY IS SET TO OPEN ITS DOORS TODAY. THE EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY AND GENERAL SHALE BRICK FACILITY WAS PAID FOR WITH A FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION GRANT OF EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS AFTER A STATE ROAD CREW DISCOVERED THE SITE WHILE WORKING TO WIDEN ROUTE 75 NEAR DANIEL BOONE HIGH SCHOOL. SO FAR, RESEARCHERS HAVE UNEARTHED SKELTONS OF RHINOS, TAPIRS (TAP-EAR), A RED PANDA, AND A BADGER – TWO OF WHICH WERE NEW SPECIES NEVER BEFORE SEEN. THE SITE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE FORMED NEARLY 7 MILLION YEARS AGO.