The Hagerman Fossil Beds are full of rich fossil deposits that may be able to enlighten scientists and researchers about the time known as the Ice Age. The monument is located near Hagerman, Idaho. The national monument is named after the amount of Hagerman Horse fossils that were found in the area and is currently the largest concentration of horse fossils in North America. There are an estimated thirty complete horse fossils and portions of 200 individual horses. Scientists believe that there is a link between the prehistoric and modern horses that are found in the fossilized remains. There are thousands of other fossils that are found in the area that represent over 220 species of animals and plants. The fossil beds have gained international significance because it reveals some of the earliest appearances of modern flora and fauna.
The monument was first excavated in the 1930's by the Smithsonian Institution. Since the Smithsonian's first involvement with the region, hundreds of others research institutions and museums have also come to the area to learn and gather samples as well. At the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, thousands of fossils have been embedded into the banks of the Snake River. Visitors can see where the fossils have been exposed by water that has carved into the fossil layers and uncovered an important piece of the world's historical account. Through the research, artists have been able to paint a possible picture of what the ecosystem in the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument once looked like thousands of years ago. The area of the monument covers over four thousand acres of land and was established as a national monument in 1988 by the National Park Service.
Hagerman Fossil Beds also contains the Hagerman Horse Quarry. The quarry is recognized as one of the most important sites in the world in regard to historical records of horses. Paleontological research has been conducted at the site over the years and used in scientific literature and museums. Paleontologists are currently putting the fossils on display to use them for research and interpretation of the past. It is estimated the educational significance of the Hagerman Fossil Beds has been documented in more than two hundred published scientific papers. Another interesting thing about the monument is that it contains a portion of the Oregon Trail, which is a nationally historic site, popular in the United States.
Particularly in Idaho, Hagerman Fossil Beds is a popular attraction. Each year over twenty thousand people visit the national monument in search of exploration, enlightenment, and entertainment. Many visitors to the monument use the Rock Lodge Resort and campground to go camping at the Hagerman Fossil Beds. Other activities available at the fossil beds include boating, fishing, and seasonal hunting. A Visitors Center is available on monument grounds to help tourists get better aquatinted with what Hagerman Fossil Beds has to offer. Fossil exhibits, a discovery corner, and an informational DVD are available at the center. Ranger-guided tours are available during certain seasons and depart from the Visitors Center. There is no admission fee in order to enter the monument's grounds.
