The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States

5spitzy135 5:00 PM Jul 4, 2022

Fascinating Unique Site
This is a really interesting place to visit for just about anyone, especially families, and anyone interested in dinosaurs and fossils. It is very unique, and world renowned. It is the largest mammoth research site in the world. This site houses actual mammoth bones and a variety of plant and small animal fossils at a working dig site. The mammoth bones are partially uncovered and left in place. The building you enter was built over the site after the remains were found, creating this incredible scientific look into the past. As one of the guides explained, technically these are mammoth bones, not fossils because they have not gone through the mineralization that much older bones do. The mammoths fell into this huge sinkhole and were unable to get back out, preserving them in clay and sand. Most of them are Colombian Mammoths, only three are Woolly Mammoths, and all are male! It is also the only site tin the world that has found both types of mammoths in the same site. And what you see is only the top portion they have excavated. They said there is much more to be found several feet below. The site is easily accessed with several stairwells where you can get a closer view of the remains. Individual areas of interest are number tagged to references explaining what you are viewing. There are workers actively excavating the remains, and a few inside a closed glassed in area doing preservation work. The surrounding displays are well presented and the life-size replicas are impressive. Make sure to watch the 10 minute video that explains much of how this site was formed. The site also offers regularly scheduled Junior Paleontologists digs for children ages 4-12, advance reservations are suggested, see info on their website.

5Cassbella 5:00 PM Jun 27, 2021

Must See!
Visited again on our trip to the Black Hills this summer and this place does not disappoint! My kids age 9 and 6 loved it. Highly recommend booking in advance the Junior Paleontology program online before you arrive it’s worth the extra $ and kids will love it! They get to dig for Mammoth bones for an hour. They sell out fast (4 sessions a day) so that is why I say book online if you can. The museum is great too and so informative. If I had to say top 3 attractions in Black Hills it’s Mt Rushmore, MammothSite and Devil Tower!