The Omaha World-Herald has an interesting article about the Ashfall Fossil Beds in Nebraska. Ashfall Fossil Beds is a state park. It features the fossil remains of many animals, who were killed by the ash from a volcanic eruption in Idaho about 12 million years ago. The eruption is thought to be 1000 times larger than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. It's an active research site. More than 200 complete skeletons have been found on the site... mostly rhinos, but some horses and other animals.
The Ashfall Fossil Beds is a great vacation stop. It's located about three hours northwest of Omaha, about 7 miles north of Nebraska Highway 20 at Royal, Nebraska. Here is their official website.
Since the first fossil was discovered in 1971 by paleontologist Mike Voorhies, more than 200 complete or nearly complete skeletons have been unearthed and more are sure to be revealed as Ashfall is an active dig site. Interns spend each summer continuing the painstaking process of searching the ash, scraping off thin layers at a time, to see what additional history they can find.
Visitors to Ashfall can watch the interns at work in the Hubbard Rhino Barn which completely covers the dig site. Posters line the walls of the barn describing animals known to have lived in the area. And there’s an onsite educator to answer any questions visitors might have.
Ashfall is wheelchair accessible except for the nature trails which are grass or rock. Anything relating to fossils is handicapped accessible.
In addition to the fossils in the Rhino Barn, Ashfall has a child-friendly exhibit for 2023 called “Poop & Paws” which shows how to identify animals by their tracks, scat and other clues.
