The Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument features an extraordinary wall showcasing around 1,500 dinosaur bones that were deposited by an ancient stream approximately 150 million years ago. Paleontologist Earl Douglass of the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh made a significant discovery here in 1909, unearthing eight tail vertebrae from an Apatosaurus. Today, this impressive […]
Fossil Butte National Monument, situated in southwestern Wyoming, lies 15 miles west of Kemmerer and was designated as a national monument on October 23, 1972. The fossils discovered at the monument are remnants of plants and animals that thrived around Fossil Lake, a vast freshwater body that existed 52 million years ago during the […]
The Dinosaur National Monument visitor centers serve as a hub of information and resources for visitors to the monument. Dinosaur National Monument has two visitors one in Utah, Quarry Visitor Center, and one in Colorado, Canyon Visitor Center. During our visit to the monument we explored the Utah side and this post is about […]
Chamberlain, South Dakota is a city located on the east bank of the Missouri River. The city was founded in 1881. Today it has a population of around 2,500 residents and serves as the county seat of Brule County. We have taken multiple trips to Chamberlain and it’s sister city Oacoma and always have […]
Situated just north of Pipestone in southwestern Minnesota, Pipestone National Monument holds deep cultural significance as a site where Indigenous peoples from 23 tribal nations, such as the Dakota and Lakota, have quarried red pipestone for over 3,000 years, crafting pipes and effigies for ceremonial use. Established on August 25, 1937, the monument preserves […]
The Pipestone National Monument visitor center serves as a hub of information and resources for visitors. It is located near the entrance and provides information on the park’s features, history, and activities. Speak with park rangers and volunteers at the information desk to get details on hiking trails and other activities available to visitors within […]
Pipestone, Minnesota has a population of a little over 4,000 residents and is the county seat of Pipestone County. It was incorporated as a village on February 10, 1881, and as a city on July 23, 1901. The city took its name from Pipestone County Below are some cheap and free things to do during your […]
Marquette is a city in Clayton County, Iowa with around 430 residents. Marquette was originally incorporated as North McGregor in 1874, and it served as a railroad terminus. Nestled in the bluffs of the Mississippi River it is known as the “Driftless Area”. It is named after Father Marquette, who along with Louis Joliet, […]
Effigy Mounds National Monument is located in northeast Iowa along the banks of the Mississippi River and holds the distinction of being the state’s only national monument. The monument preserves over 200 prehistoric mounds, including numerous effigy mounds shaped like animals. One of the favored trails within the monument is the Fire Point Trail. […]
The Yellow River Bridge Trail stands out as a favored hiking path within Iowa’s only national monument, Effigy Mounds National Monument. Venturing through this wetland setting becomes an immersive experience as hikers traverse a boardwalk made from recycled plastic, guiding them through a marsh and over the Yellow River. The trailhead, conveniently situated behind […]
