Hot Springs, South Dakota -
Mammoth Site: Indoor Boneyard

Hot Springs, South Dakota - Bone Pit Gawking Enjoys Mammoth Resurgence

Mammoth Site: Indoor Boneyard: People have stared at bones in pits ever since there have been bone pits old enough for detached viewing. Yet in recent years it has become an uncertain, even discouraged, activity. [09/11/2008] Complete Story...

Mammoth Site: Indoor Boneyard

A fun and informative stop, especially if you have children who are fascinated by ancient creatures. July is the month to visit because that is when people are actually working on the dig (the rest of the year they are cataloging and researching the material unearthed).

This is the only site in the world with fossils from Columbian and Woolly mammoths. The laboratory in the basement shows volunteers working on the meticulous process of cleaning up the fossils. The tour and new knowledge about mammoths was definitely worth the money! [Kim, 07/15/2010]

Dig Up A Mammoth

An actual, working, active excavation of mammoth bones and fossils. Call ahead and reserve a spot for kids to participate in the dig (limited number of spots available). Very good tour all around the dig, plus interesting exhibits about prehistoric life in the area. Fascinating because you are there, watching the scientists work! If you're into archeology you'll love it, and if you're not you'll still find it interesting because the bones that are being dug up are just as the animals fell. [Debbi, 09/20/2008]

Mammoth excavation site

Hot spring site where mammoths were drawn to water and then drowned. Huge excavation effort on grounds formerly planned for an apartment complex. The land owner was cool enough to give up his capitalist endeavors for a piece of natural history. [KD Derr, 08/11/2001]