Nineteen million years ago, creatures long extinct roamed across the Miocene savannah. Their fossilized remains are now to be found in the sedimentary hills of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Explore the hiking trails to see the quarries where the digs were conducted and discover fossils that have been left in place.
The visitor centre also tells the story of Captain James Cook – a former hunter, guide and army scout, and owner of Agate Springs Ranch. For some 50 years, the Agate Springs Ranch welcomed many Indian visitors, such as Red Cloud. In return for feeding his guests the Indians gave gifts which have become a sizable and significant collection of Native American artefacts.