INTRO:

Commonly recognized as one of the best preserved Miocene mammal sites in the world, the Agate Fossil Beds sit in the Niobrara River Valley in northwestern Nebraska. The beautiful natural wonder of the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument offers people the chance to explore not only the renowned fossil quarries but also evidence of human culture that stretches back for 2500 years. Long after the fossil record was completed, in the 18th and 19th centuries, many tribes of Native Americans hunted and lived in the area, which later hosted Captain James Cook's Agate Springs Ranch.

FOSSILS:
Twenty million years ago, in the Age of Mammals, such bizarre species as the Dinohyus (a cross between a large pig and cow known as the 'terrible pig'), the Stenomylus (a two-foot tall gazelle-camel), the Menoceras (a short rhinoceros), the Diceratherium (a two-horned rhinoceros) and others made their home on the plains, and their bones can still be seen in excavated quarries. However, up to three-quarters of the fossil-ridden areas, composed of the Harrison and Marsland Formations, have not been excavated by paleontologists. The Agate Fossil Beds Monument's Cook Collection of American Indian artifacts reflects years of gifts brought by the Indians during visits to the Agate Springs Ranch from the 1880's through the early 1900's. Fossils, stones and anything else are not to be removed from the park.

ACTIVITIES:
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument offers visitors a captivating opportunity to delve into both the natural and cultural wonders of the past -- at the park's Visitor Center and Museum through exhibits as well as on the hiking trail. In the main room of the museum, there are reproductions of skeletons, a rock with bones taken from the outside as well as a number of displays. The most impressive is the Cook Collection of around 500 Lakota Indian artifacts and works of art given to Captain Cook by such famous Native Americans as Red Cloud and American Horse. The park has two hiking trails that work their way through the area, including around some of the original quarries. Two miles long, the Fossil Hills Trail makes its way from the visitor center to University and Carnegie Hills, where most of the digging in the early days of the excavation happened. The one-mile long Daemonelix Trail (Devil's Corkscrew) is at the other end of the park, and it leads past the set of twisted, fossilized beaver's burrows that gave it the trail its name. Tours are available, as are educational programs for students. In the summer, Lakota artisans participate in an artists-in-residence program showcasing various arts and crafts.

LODGING AND RESTAURANTS:
The Agate Fossil Beds National Monument does not have camping available, though the Fort Robinson State Park, located near Crawford, Nebraska, does. The closest hotels are to be found 30 miles away in Lusk, Wyoming. The Best Western is a bit of a step up from the Best Value Inn or the Covered Wagon Motel. El Jarro is a good Mexican option for a meal in Lusk, and also about a half an hour drive from the park, Harrison, Nebraska has a few restaurants.

PLAN YOUR VISIT:
The Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is open daily, year-round except Christmas, New Year's and Thanksgiving Days. Hours are from 8:00am until 5:00pm (an hour later in the summer). A week-long individual pass to the park costs just $3, and a car pass costs $5. An annual membership is $15 and covers entrance to Scotts Bluff National Monument and Fort Laramie National Historical Site. Pets must be on a leash on the trails, and they are not allowed in the Visitor Center.

WHEN TO VISIT:
Agate Fossil Beds can be quite cold in the winter, particularly at night, and the spring is rainy. The summer is usually temperate, though the crowds rise correspondingly. However, there are significantly more ranger activities available between June and September.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Where can I get more information and facts about the Agate Fossil Beds? The National Park Service site
(http://www.nps.gov/agfo/index.htm) dedicated to the Agate Fossil Beds is helpful for paleontologists and tourists alike.