Sara Ann O'Sullivan

Dinosaurs were a major part of my South Dakota trip. I always knew there were fossils up there, but there seemed to be something new to learn everywhere we stopped. I mention (in a previous blog post) our stop at the Museum of Geology—that was really the first place we got to dig into the history of South Dakota, and how fossils have shaped its culture. They’ve got everything from ancient seashells to T-Rex and Triceratops’ models and bones. Some of the cooler stuff is below in my photos!

Dinosaurs are also part of the tourist scene in Rapid City. They’ve got a Dinosaur Park you can hike up to for city views—and the dinosaurs are, like, life-sized sculptures. This is a perfect for goofy pics or for sceienc views. I heard rumors it’s haunted—apparently the area’s got some old history of unrest and even a supposed hanging on the mountain—but who knows. If you’re into dinos, there are tons of cute gifts in the park’s gift shop to bring home.

If you wander away from Rapid City, head over to Hot Springs for The Mammoth Site, a literal mammoth burial ground. It’s not just a museum—it’s a real active dig site where fossils are still being uncovered.

They’ve uncovered over 60 mammoths, mostly the larger, hairless Columbian kind, but a few woolly ones too. Scientists now think these fossils go back 140,000 to 190,000 years—not just the 26,000 years folks used to guess. It’s thought the sinkhole formed when a limestone cavern collapsed, creating a steep pond that was irresistible to mammoths—especially curious young males who wandered in and got trapped on the slippery shale slopes. Seeing them there—bones still lying where those ancient giants died—it’s kinda haunting and amazing. The Staff there was very nice and helpful.

There are even fossils randomly scattered in places you’d least expect. When we drove into Wyoming and stopped at the welcome center, they had fossil displays and information on where you can hunt your own finds (safely and legally, of course). My sister and I immediately added those cool fossil spots to our bucket lists.

We also checked out the Reptile Garden back in Rapid City and surprisingly, they had some interesting fossils—even one from back home in Florida! Made me pause and think… how wild was the world back then, when these giant creatures roamed?

Thank you guys for being on this adventure with me, and if you take anything away from my Fossil adventures is, that the past is always around us and there so much to be discovered.