Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)

An aerial photo of University and Carnegie hills

University and Carnegie Hills fossil beds
A map of the United State showing the location of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Location Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Nearest city Harrison, NE
Coordinates 42°25′18″N 103°45′14″W / 42.421703°N 103.75388°WCoordinates: 42°25′18″N 103°45′14″W / 42.421703°N 103.75388°W[1]
Area 11,617 acres (4,701 ha)[2]
Established June 14, 1997
Visitors 11,824 (in 2012)[3]
Governing body National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/agfo/

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is a U.S. National Monument near Harrison, Nebraska. The main features of the monument are a valley of the Niobrara River and the fossils found on Carnegie Hill and University Hill.

The area largely consists of grass-covered plains. Plants on the site include prairie sandreed, blue grama, little bluestem and needle and thread grass, and the wildflowers lupin, spiderwort, western wallflower and sunflowers.

History

The site is best known for the large number of well-preserved Miocene fossils, many of which were found at dig sites on Carnegie and University Hills. Fossils from the site, which date from about 20 million years ago, are among some of the best specimens of Miocene mammals. Species found at Agate include:

Originally the Agate Springs Ranch, a working cattle ranch, was owned by Capt. James Cook. The monument's museum collection also contains more than 500 artifacts from the Cook Collection of Plains Indian artifacts.

The national monument was authorized on June 5, 1965, but was not established until June 14, 1997. The Harold J. Cook Homestead (Bone Cabin Complex) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.[4] Agate Fossil Beds is maintained by the National Park Service.[5]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. "Agate Fossil Beds National Monument". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  2. "Listing of acreage as of December 31, 2011". Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  3. "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  4. "Nebraska National Register Sites in Sioux County". Nebraska State Historical Society. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  5. "Agate Fossil Beds National Monument". U.S. National Park Service. Archived from the original on December 2, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2009.

External links

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