Exhibits

Ice Age Mammals
Learn about the creatures who lived on the great plains during the Ice Age though fossils and other displays in this exhibit. Newly renovated Summer 2021.

What is a Fossil?
As you explore this exhibit you will learn what fossils are, about direct and indirect fossil evidence, and what makes a pseudo fossil.

Clash of the Mammoths
This display highlights two Ice Age mammoths that died in combat in the Badlands just 13 miles from Trailside Museum, as well as the two feuding paleontologists for whom they’re named.

Cretaceous Sea
Nebraska was covered by a shallow warm inland sea from 75 to 100 million years ago. In this exhibit you will learn about some of the creatures and geology of that time.

Bone Slabs
Learn about the creatures preserved in the Aletomeryx and Stenomylus bone slabs and fossils found in a deadly ancient waterhole from Agate National Monument of Nebraska.

Geology of Western Nebraska
Explore the geology of areas like the Badlands, Pine Ridge, and the White River Valley. The rock layers in these locations contain the fossils and stories of different eras in time.

Rock & Mineral Displays
View agates native to Nebraska as well as other minerals exhibiting natural fluorescence.

Hidden Prairie
Explore the diversity of plant and animal life found in one square meter of prairie in this exhibit inspired by the work of Chris Helzer.