Does anyone in your family LOVE fossils? My preschooler was crazy about them, and I had read so many books with him about prehistoric animals that I was hooked too. That's why we had to stop at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota during our Black Hills road trip.
The Mammoth Site was the last stop of our Black Hills vacation. If we had known that we were going to drive all the way home to Salt Lake City that day, we probably wouldn't have taken the time for this attraction. I'm glad we did.
Here's what to expect at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
What You'll See
The Mammoth Site is a pre-historic sinkhole where 61 mammoth skeletons have been excavated to date. The Mammoth site was discovered in 1974 when the land was being excavated for a housing development. Local citizens preserved the site, and a climate-controlled museum was erected over it.
Most of the fossils are Colombian Mammoths, though three Woolly Mammoths have also been found. Fossils from 85 other Ice Age species, as well as information on ancient rocks and plant life, have also been found.
If anyone in your family loves fossils, the Mammoth Site is a slam dunk. What impressed me most is how easy it is to identify the mammoth fossils. Skulls, tusks and bodies are obviously and abundantly embedded in the rock.
Related: Our Black Hills Itinerary for Families
Mammoth Site Tour
The 30-minute tour is included in your admission. The tour begins with a short movie about the site, then guests walk through the site with wireless headsets. It is intended for all ages. The tour has changed somewhat since our visit, but I'm guessing that it still moves quickly enough for families with young children.
After the tour, there are several areas in the museum where families can explore hands-on exhibits of fossils, and early human history.
Related: Tips for Visiting Mount Rushmore
How Much Time?
I recommend 1-3 hours to visit the Mammoth Site. It won't take long to walk through and see the fossils, but the tour, exhibits and activities may take more time.
Just for Kids
The Mammoth Site offers Junior Paleontologist Excavation Programs for kids and teens for an additional fee. It looked fun, but registration for the next program was closed by the time we learned about it. Plan ahead for this one.
Your kids will get dirty, and photography is encouraged.
Related: Wind Cave vs Jewel Cave in South Dakota's Black Hills
Conclusion
The Mammoth Site is a great example of how delightful an unexpected discovery can be. Workers were surprised when they uncovered a huge cache of mammoth fossils in 1974. Our family was pleasantly surprised, and I hope that your family will enjoy it too.
Featured photo credit: Mammoth Site
Good to Know
Where: 1800 Highway 18, Truck route in Hot Springs, South Dakota. We found it easily, driving south from Rapid City.
The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs is about an hours drive (58 miles) from Rapid City.
When: Open year round, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter. Hours change seasonally.
How Much: Admission starts at around $8 per person. Children ages 3 and under get in FREE.
How Long: About 2 hours
Amenities: Gift shop, restrooms
Website: www.mammothsite.com
How else can I help?
Traveling by air? Rapid City Regional Airport is the nearest airport to the Black Hills. Denver International is the nearest major airport.
Need a rental car? Driving your own car is the best way to explore the Black Hills. Find the best rates from dozens of agencies at RentalCars.com.
Need a place to stay? Rapid City makes a good base for this trip. It’s the biggest city in the area, with a wide selection of hotels, restaurants, shopping and other vacation amenities. We stayed at Howard Johnson Inn and Suites and would stay there again.
Click the button below to check rates and availability for this hotel on TripAdvisor.com.
Sere
This is totally one of those places that I absolutely have to stop at when I head to the Black Hills. My son wants to be an archaeologist, too many Indiana Jones movies I think! But still a place he would LOVE to visit. I think I will have to sign him up for the Excavation Program for sure. Thanks for the info on this :).
Mary {The World Is A Book}
What a great place! I love that it’s an active and working paleontology dig site. My kids would love this place and the Junior Paleontologist Excavation Program sounds awesome. Also, your family is still in my thoughts and prayers and following you along on the other blog (even if I don’t comment there).
Allison
Thank you, Mary! I appreciate that a lot.
darling729
We have a place like this in Waco – 6 fully intact mammoths were stuck in the mud and preserved – it is fascinating to see.
Thanks for sharing and linking up! Hope you have a great week!
Allison
Thanks! It’s nice to be back at Friday Daydreamin.
EverywhereAmy
There are so many great things to do in the Black Hills. If only they weren’t so far away from everything else!
Allison
It’s right in the middle of the U.S., so I guess it’s equally far away from everything else. It took us a day to drive from SLC to the Black Hills. We found license plates from every U.S. state and most of the Canadian provinces. It’s worth every mile, I promise!
Laurel
Love this place! It really is a moment frozen in time. Totally worth going out of the way to get to!