Waco Has a National Monument With Mammoth Fossils

In 1978, Paul Barron and Eddie Bufkin noticed a large bone in a ravine near the Bosque River. Baylor's Strecker Museum identified it as a mammoth femur. Later digs uncovered a nursery herd of at least 19 females and young that appear to have died together, along with other Ice Age animals.

The site became Waco Mammoth National Monument in 2015. The National Park Service describes its nursery herd as the nation's first and only recorded one. Walking the park grounds is free, while entering the Dig Shelter requires a ticket. Check current hours, holiday closures, and ticket prices before making the drive.