Western Trails Scenic and Historic Byway
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, NE

The 3,000 acre Agate Fossil Beds is the home of 19.2 million year-old Miocene epoch mammal fossils. Like so many other fossil beds, this area was once a watering hole, thus preserving a variety of mammals. A life size fossil diorama depicts the life and death of these animals. The park was once part of "Captain" James H. Cook's Agate Springs Ranch. This ranch was also a place where the Oglala Lakota Indian people gathered. Among those was their chief, Red Cloud. On exhibit are many artifacts from the Sioux. There is a whetstone used by Crazy Horse, war club, a pipe used for negotiations at Fort Laramie, and hide paintings.