Stand on the edge of discovery and walk where mammoths, bears, and other Ice Age animals walked...
The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota, is the world’s largest mammoth research facility. You can tour an active paleontological dig site and view Ice Age fossils exhibited as they are found.
Open year round, the Mammoth Site offers the museum visitor a 30-minute guided tour plus a 10-minute video. Tour information features the Mammoth Site and Ice Age geology, paleontology, and paleoecology. Today, visitors to the museum observe first-hand a scientific excavation.
During the month of July, Earthwatch volunteers, under the direction of Dr. Larry Agenbroad, excavate, identify and study the Ice Age fossils. Read the latest Earthwatch news...
New to the Mammoth Site in 2012
New Exhibit - LYUBA
The newest addition to the Mammoth Site is Lyuba (Lee-oo-bah) - a replica of the baby mammoth from Siberia. Here is her story:
Lyuba was discovered in May 2007, by Yuri Khudi, a Nenet reindeer herder. It was found on the bank of the Yuribei River, in Northwestern Siberia. There was some mystery and intrigue involved between the discovery and the specimen being placed in a scientific institution. When Yuri went to get the specimen, it was gone. It had been taken by another reindeer herder and sold to a store in Novyj Port for 2 snowmobiles and a year’s supply of food. The skin, flesh, internal organs and stomach were intact in the frozen body. The baby mammoth was missing only its toenails, most of the hair, the tail and part of the right ear. Dogs had gnawed off the tail and part of the right ear. read more...
New and expanded programs!
~ Jr. Paleontologist Excavation Program for participants 4 - 12, expanded from 2 digs daily to 4 digs daily in June and July and 1 class daily August 1 - 15.
~ Advanced Paleontologist Excavation Program for participants 13 and older. One dig daily in June and July.
~ Atlatl Throwing Experience for participants 13 and older.
One class daily June through August 15th.
You can find more information about these programs and book your
reservations here.
Visitors to the museum can take in:
