What’s interesting about Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is that it was discovered accidentally by a farmer, and it is truly a boneyard. Many specimens are on display inside the visitor center.
One fossilized structure was accessible on a short trail
(encased in plexiglas to prevent damage from visitors)
It was established that these formations were not fossils of enormous plant taproots, but in fact fossilized spiral burrows dug by prehostoric beavers – the skeletons of which were discovered inside such spirals.
One section of the visitor center is a museum is dedicated to James Cook, the owner of Agate Springs Ranch. As a writeup describes, “some of their most valued guests were Lakota and Cheyenne visitors who knew Cook because of his friendship with the Lakota leader Red Cloud”. The museum displays a portion of the 500 items given to Cook by Red Cloud.