In 1983-84, one of the richest Ice-Age fossil discoveries in the world took place in the ponds at the Leisey Shell Pit near Ruskin, Florida, after amateur paleontologists reported a large accumulation of fossils to the Florida Museum of Natural History. The site and the community drew international attention and coverage from local, state, and national news media, and scientists called the discovery a new window into the past for paleontology. Fossil hunter Frank Garcia and crew organized volunteers in and around Ruskin to excavate 203 different types of fauna, and with cooperation and resources from the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Leisey Shell Corporation, and the Leisey and Casey families, over 20,000 identifiable fossils were unearthed. Volunteers from the Tampa Bay Mineral & Science Club recognized public interest in the fossils and spawned the Tampa Bay Fossil Club, which continues to meet some 30 years later.