MDC’s Lecture Series Returns with Focus on Florida Fossils

This lecture is FREE but registration is required. CLICK HERE to register.

Uncover the ancient giants that once roamed Florida when our Discovery Lecture Series returns in September.

Zach Zacharias will present “Return to Prehistoric Florida,” on Thursday, September 3, at 6 p.m., at Marine Discovery Center’s Learning Lab. Zacharias is the senior curator of history at Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) in Daytona Beach, now called the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, Science and History.

Florida boasts a rich history of colossal prehistoric creatures, from towering ground sloths and mammoths to mastodons and saber-toothed cats. Over the past several million years, the Ice Ages have profoundly shaped Florida’s landscape and its wildlife.

In this presentation, explore the process of fossilization and learn about the science of paleontology. Discover the best spots in the state to find ancient fossils and learn why dinosaurs never inhabited the peninsula. Delve into the anatomy of extinct mammals and the theories behind their extinction. Guests will be offered a hands-on experience with real specimens.

Zacharias has worked for 34 years at MOAS, overseeing educational programming and working with numerous exhibits. He was a longtime former member on the Volusia County Historic Preservation Board and specializes in Florida history, Florida natural history and Florida historical landscapes — writing a book on Florida forts entitled, Florida Forts on the Edge of Empire, as well as Big Zach’s Ultimate Guide to Northeast Florida.

Zacharias is a cast member and co-producer of a local PBS TV Show with 24 episodes called The Fossil Hunters about fossil hunting in Florida, with Season 4 to be released in late Summer 2026. The show has recently been picked up for worldwide streaming on Plex, Amazon Prime, Tubi, Direct TV, YouTube TV and other streaming services.

In addition, he appeared as an expert historian on the Travel Channel’s history show Caribbean Pirate Gold, starring members of the Jacques Cousteau Family. In 2011 Zach excavated an almost complete mastodon elephant in Daytona Beach, which displayed at the museum (the museum is currently closed due to construction of a new building). Zacharias received the Museum’s highest award, the Henry Saltzman Award, in December 2023, for distinguished commitment to enriching the cultural and educational climate of Volusia County.

MDC’s September event will be the restart of the Discovery Lecture Series, which suspended during the summer months for MDC’s summer camp program.

The lecture is open to the public at no charge  |  Registration is required