• 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.

Things To Do

The visitor center at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.

The visitor center at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument houses the exhibits featuring the Miocene age mammals and the James Cook Collection.  This is also where you will receive information about the trails and the area.

The main attractions for most visitors include the dramatic displays in the Visitor Center showcasing ancient mammals that once roamed the American Plains, and the unique Cook Collection of American Indian artifacts. For those with more time, short hikes from one to three miles allow the opportunity to explore the natural history of the Niobrara River Valley and its current and past wildlife.

Did You Know?

This painting hangs in the Den exhibit in the Cook Gallery.

Red Cloud, a chief of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, was one of the most photographed American Indians.  More than 128 photos were taken of him during his lifetime.  An oil painting of Red Cloud painted at the Agate Springs Ranch hangs in the “Den” exhibit in the James H. Cook Gallery. More...