• 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.

Fossils and Much, Much More

During the 1890s, scientists rediscovered what the Lakota Sioux already knew - bones preserved in one of the most complete Miocene mammal sites in the world.

Yet, this place called "Agate" is a landscape that reflects many players – from early animals roaming the valleys and hills, to tribal nations calling the High Plains home, to explorers passing through or settling in the American West.

Features

  • The large head of the fearsome Dinohyus.

    Mammal Fossils

    After the Age of Dinosaurs came the Age of Mammals. Agate Fossil Beds features unique animals from the Miocene age.

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  • This beaded saddle blanket is an example of the items displayed in the Cook Gallery.

    The James H. Cook Collection

    A friendship between James Cook and Red Cloud of the Oglala Lakota Sioux grew during the late 1800's. From this friendship came the Cook Collection.

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  • The view from the top of the Daemonelix Trail.

    Hiking Trails

    Two trails totaling almost five miles are available for the hiking crowd. Walk to the early excavation sites or view an unusual trace fossil.

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  • Facebook logo

    Agate Fossil Beds Facebook

    Join us on Facebook for current day-to-day happenings.

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  • The Fossil Freeway highlights several fossil sites in western Nebraska and South Dakota.

    The Fossil Freeway

    Come travel the "Fossil Freeway" and get acquainted with the deep history of North America's High Plains!

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  • Needle and thread grass

    A Sea of Mixed Grass Prairie

    Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is composed of almost 3000 acres of mixed grass prairie. Over 300 species of native plants are found here.

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  • Cattle drives go through the monument a couple of times a year.

    Ranching in Sioux County

    Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is in the middle of ranch country. Driving to the monument gives one a sense of living with the land.

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Did You Know?

Dinohyus skull in diorama

One of the more menacing beasts found in the quarries at Agate Fossil Beds was the Dinohyus. This big-toothed animal was a scavenger credited with tearing apart the rhino skeletons that ended up in the waterhole bonebed. Although not related to the pig family, his nickname was “Terrible Pig.” More...