Fossil Butte National Monument

Introduction

Fossil Butte National Monument, located in southwestern Wyoming near the Utah border, is one of the most important units of the U.S. National Park System dedicated to paleontological fossil preservation. The monument covers approximately 5,180 hectares, centered on Fossil Butte, an isolated hill composed of Eocene lake deposits from 55 million years ago. This area was once covered by one of three great ancient lakes across southern Wyoming during the Eocene, and the lake sediments perfectly preserved fossils of fish, reptiles, birds, and early mammals from that era. Over 35,000 fossils have been excavated, making it one of the world's most important fossil repositories for studying early mammal evolution. The visitor center displays complete fossils of crocodilian turtles, giant bony fish, early horses, and bats, with a fossil preparation demonstration window where visitors can watch paleontologists cleaning fossils from rock. Multiple hiking trails lead to in-situ fossil outcrops and Eocene lake strata sections, making it an excellent destination for paleontology enthusiasts and family science education.

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