Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is located in Sioux County in the state of Nebraska. A portion of this remote cattle ranching area has been set aside to preserve the extraordinary fossil remains of the Miocene era. The park is unique in that it features mammal fossils, not reptilian dinosaurs that make it a place of profound scientific interest. However, the monument features more than just fossils, and visitors are encouraged to explore the geologic and historic background of the area.
Fossil Beds
The Agate Fossil Beds National Monument has been the site of numerous fossil discoveries from 19 to 21 million years ago. Fossilized remains of Daphoenodon, or beardog; Daeodon, or “terrible pig”; Moropus, a rhinoceros-horse relative; and Minoceras, a miniature version of the modern rhinoceros are just a few of the more interesting specimens that have been found over the years.
Hiking Trails
The park offers two hiking trails for visitors to explore. The Daemonelix Trail is just a mile long and offers a number of interesting land features. The Fossil Hills Trail is a paved, three mile trail that crosses the Niobrara River and grass prairies with a number of sites of interest. This trail is also wheelchair accessible.
Visitors Center
One of the most popular features at the monument is the Visitors Center and museum that offers travelers to the area an in-depth look at the discoveries made over a hundred years. The Visitors Center also provides information about the geological and historical features of the park area.
The Cook Collection
James H. Cook came to the area as a cattle drover and eventually developed a friendly relationship with Red Cloud, the chief of the Oglala Lakota tribe that inhabited the area, and they became lifelong friends. The chief gave a number of gifts to the Cook family, such as buckskin suits, painted hides, and other artifacts that were eventually given to the National Park Service for preservation. These and other items are available for viewing in the Cook Collection museum in the Visitors Center.
Related article: Hike Through Ancient History at Nebraska’s Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Featured Image from Zack Frank/Shutter Stock
