I have long had an interest in fossils, and have been fortunate enough to live around places where there is an interesting fossil record. This is especially true of Alberta, with its collection of Jurassic era fossils as seen in the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. But it is also true of Montana and Idaho.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is located in southern Idaho, between Twin Falls and Boise. It’s one of the world’s most significant fossil deposits from the late Pliocene Epoch (estimated 3 to 4 million years ago). The monument protects a large area of 4,351 acres located along the Snake River.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument preserves a diverse fossil array of more than 200 species of plants and animals, many of them now extinct. Eight fossils are unique to this site.
Much of Hagerman National Monument is protected and off limits (to protect the delicate environment), but you can view educational displays and many interesting fossils at the Monument’s Thousand Springs Visitor’s Center (note: the National Monument is associated with the State of Idaho’s Thousand Springs State Park). The Visitor Center, a modern structure, opening in 2022, and is actually the only place you can see fossils in the National Monument. These fossil specimens include:
The famous Hagerman Horse, one of the earliest known true one-toed horses in North America. Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument has yielded the largest concentration of these fossils anywhere, with more than 200 specimens found so far including a number of intact horse skeletons (of interest, the Hagerman Horse is Idaho’s official state fossil).
Other interesting finds include saber-toothed cats. The photo below was used as last weekend’s One Clue Mystery photo. It proved to be a challenging photo puzzle, but our ace travel sleuth George G was able to accurately identify the site — good work, George!
Mastodons….
A sample of some of the other exhibits…..
Other animals which lived in the area at the time included ground sloths, hyena-like dogs, wild pigs, birds, fish, and a wide array of plants.
Research at the site is ongoing, and some 3,000 fossils are excavated from the National Monument each year.
The landscape of the National Monument can be viewed from roadside stops along US Highway 30, featuring dramatic bluffs, scenic views of the Snake River, and parts of the historic Oregon Trail. There are a few hiking trails in the National Monument, but no fossil excavations can be observed and it is illegal to take anything from the site.
There is no fee to enter the National Monument or Visitor Center.
