• The Agate Fossil Hills where mammal fossils were excavated in the early 1900's

    Agate Fossil Beds

    National Monument Nebraska

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  • Visitor Center Hours

    The visitor center at Agate Fossil Beds will be open the following hours: Memorial Day till Labor Day Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm; Labor Day till Memorial Day Open Daily 8 am - 4 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where's the agate?
    James Cook named his ranch "Agate Spring Ranch" possibly after the local moss agate. Examples of the local agate can be seen in the Visitor Center, but are not a prominent feature of the park.
  • Can I see real fossils?
    Several fossils can be found in exhibits along some of the monument's trails. Exhibits in the visitor center contain a few real fossils and many plastic resin replicas.
  • Are they still digging?
    There are no actual excavations currently happening or planned. Museums already contain many fossils taken from this site for further study.
  • What if I find a fossil?
    This is a national monument, so all animals, plants, and rocks (including fossils) are protected by law and cannot be removed or harmed.
  • What about rattlesnakes?
    Prairie rattlesnakes are a normal part of grasslands found at Agate. They are rarely seen and normally try to avoid humans, but encounters do happen.

Did You Know?

Picture of the Agate Springs Ranch taken in 1898.

The name, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, came from the name of James Cook’s Agate Springs Ranch.  Travelers to the ranch would say that they were going to Agate.  The agate in the area is of a moss agate type, but is not a reason why the park was established. More...