Things to do & places to visit in Ames, Oklahoma, United States

Ames city in Oklahoma, United States. Timezone: America/Chicago, current date and time: Monday, April 29, 2024, 1:46.

Top things to do

4.5 Ames Astrobleme Museum (5 reviews)
- Great little stop; Interesting peek into the geologic past
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Natural History Museums • Science Museums

The Ames Astrobleme Museum brings to attention a cataclysmic event from some 450 million years ago. The town of Ames sits above the center of an ancient crater, also known as an astrobleme, caused by the impact of a meteor 1,000 feet in diameter. While the crater filled in with sediment over the years and cannot be seen, its impact continues to this day, as the geological formation created by the impact led to prime conditions for the trapping of oil and natural gas deposits. The museum provides a good video describing the impact and its ongoing legacy for the area. The walk-through area also includes posters describing the meteor, its impact, and the formation of the fossil fuels deposits. It was a great little stop as we meandered through the Oklahoma countryside, providing a good reason to get out of the car and learn about something new. All of my kids - ages 2 to 9 - were engaged by the video and in hearing about the giant meteor. Check it out! See more..