Dig Into History

“Life finds a way”—that’s what Dr. Ian Malcolm once said. Of course, when he said that, he was referencing life’s stubborn ability to flourish and even evolve under duress. He’s also a fictional character from a book-turned-movie franchise about the de-extinction of dinosaurs, but the point still stands.

Life does find a way. Evidence of physical, animal, and cultural evolution can be found all around us—if you know where to look. Visiting these paleontological and archaeological sites is a surefire way to help your students understand how time and environment mold the world we live in today. Plus, it’s just fun to marvel at the unbelievable size of the prehistoric creatures that once roamed this earth or reflect on the early tools, structures, and rituals of this nation’s earliest inhabitants.

Whether your students are interested in dinosaurs or fascinated by early cultures, sites like these are suitable for a robust curriculum that combines history, sociology, and science in a way that’s engaging, hands-on, and immersive.

From functioning fossil quarries to preserved Indigenous effigy mounds, prehistoric and historic sites here in the U.S. tell a story that bridges 740 million years (give or take). Dig into the past, explore species long gone, and celebrate the triumphs and tribulations of human survival at ancient sites all across the country.

MIDWEST

In the nation’s heartland, remnants of early culture exist in the forms of astrologically complex mounds, petroglyphs, and preserved artifacts. In Ohio, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks stand as a testament to ingenuity and faith. Designated as the nation’s 25th UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks include eight locations—seven of which are open to the public.

These sites were constructed by the people of the Hopewell culture between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago, and they feature mounds in the shapes of squares, circles, and octagons that are geometrically precise and align perfectly with the cycles of the sun and moon. It’s believed the Hopewell people used these structures as places of worship and community connection.

With the exception of High Bank Works, each Hopewell site offers educational programming and archaeologist- or ranger-led tour opportunities with advance booking. Help your students dig deeper into the past with a visit to each location’s visitor center and museum.

In Rockford, Iowa, put your group’s fossil-finding skills to the test at Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve. Open from sunrise to sunset year-round, this park features a Fossil & Prairie Center full of educational exhibits, Devonian fossils dating back 365 million years (when Iowa was an ocean!), and naturalist-guided tours. Groups accompanied by a county naturalist cost $1 per student. Groups in need of a Floyd County naturalist are charged $2 per student. Public programs offered at the Fossil & Prairie Park Preserve, according to the park website, offer “visitors of all ages the opportunity to learn new outdoor skills and gain a better understanding of the natural world.”

Collinsville, Illinois, is home to the largest pre-Columbian site north of Mexico. Cahokia Mounds World Heritage & State Historic Site features an Interpretive Center and around 2,000 acres of land that include 80 preserved mounds. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. There is no admission fee, but groups must schedule their visit in advance.

NORTHEAST

Follow in the giant footsteps of our Mesozoic friends at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. This 200-million-year-old fossil trackway boasts nature trails, an arboretum, and interactive exhibits perfect for your young paleontologists to explore. The park features more than 750 early Jurassic dinosaur footprints, making it one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, these preserved prints are “viewable inside the museum alongside exhibits about dinosaurs, fossils, Connecticut geology, and modern live animals.”

From September through June, the park offers engaging, guided programs for student groups. Different age groups are offered different educational programming. These programs include the “Layers Through Time” program for grades six through eight and “The Speed of Dinosaurs” for grades nine through 12.

Introduce your students to a hint of British wonder with a visit to America’s Stonehenge in Salem, New Hampshire. “Built by a Native American culture or a migrant European population? No one knows for sure. A maze of man-made chambers, walls, and ceremonial meeting places, at over 4,000 years old, America’s Stonehenge is most likely the oldest man-made construction in the United States,” reads the attraction’s website. “Like Stonehenge in England, America’s Stonehenge was built by ancient people well versed in astronomy and stone construction. It has been determined that the site is an accurate astronomical calendar. It was, and still can be, used to determine specific solar and lunar events of the year.”

America’s Stonehenge features several student tour options, including the portable audio “Boom Box Tour,” the “Chaperone-Guided Tour,” and opportunities for hands-on digs. The site also is home to three alpacas: Cindy Lou Who, Gina, and Dixon. What young tourgoers wouldn’t want to share their ancient adventures with some adorable furry friends?

SOUTHEAST

Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site became Florida’s first state archaeological site in 1948. At only 10 acres, this site is home to the Temple Mound and the Prine Burial Mound, both of which are believed to have been used throughout at least three phases of Native American culture. “The different periods can be seen in the layers of the mounds,” according to Florida State Parks. “They are [composed] of bones, pottery, and other fossils, each from a distinct time period.”

Walkways at the park wind under Spanish moss-covered trees and sable palms, and they lead to a set of stairs at the bottom of the mounds. Visitors can climb to the top and enjoy a series of interpretive signs that tell the story of the area.

Parkin, Arkansas, is the home to Parkin Archeological State Park. This 17-acre preserve is a National Historic Landmark with a Mississippian Period Indigenous village that flourished between 1000 and 1550 A.D. Park interpreters offer tours, educational programs, and special events throughout the year. The site is also the location of the 1920s Northern Ohio Lumber Cooperage Co., and the Northern Ohio School House remains on-site. Self-guided tours are free, and the park includes a picnic area, playground, and pavilion that are available for use via reservation.

WEST

Perhaps the U.S. region best known for its paleontological and archaeological sites, the West has almost too many must-see destinations to list off here. A good place to start, though, is Fossil Butte National Monument in Kemmerer, Wyoming.

“Fossil Butte is very student friendly,” says Jamie Kennedy, interpretation program manager for the national monument. “I think students of all ages can enjoy the park. We have had groups from preschool all the way through college come to visit.”

At the park, your students will find a visitor center with more than 2,000 fossils (including fossilized scat in the bathrooms), a 1 1/2-mile Nature Trail, and a 2 1/2-mile Historic Quarry Trail.

“Fifty-two million years ago, the tops of the ridges around the park were the bottom of a freshwater lake,” Kennedy explains. “The fossils of many plants and animals that lived in and around the lake can be seen in the visitor center, including fishes, crocodilians, turtles, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants, and insects.”

Student groups visiting the park typically hike, complete worksheets, participate in ranger-led activities, or watch educational films on the history of the site. For groups of 60 or more, Kennedy says, the park offers a distance learning program that includes a virtual tour of the visitor center. Bus parking and a picnic area are available, and 60 is the maximum group size that can be accommodated. Kennedy recommends groups set aside four hours for their visit.

“Fossil Butte preserves a small part of our planet’s geologic history in detail,” Kennedy adds. “The exceptional preservation of the fossils and the extraordinary abundance and variety of organisms makes this a must-see, world-class paleontological site.”

Some more key sites to consider out west are Dinosaur National Monument, on the border between Utah and Colorado; Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Sioux County, Nebraska; Mesa Verde National Park in Montezuma County, Colorado; Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas; Waco Mammoth National Monument in Waco, Texas; The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota; Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, Colorado; and Aztec Ruins National Monument in San Juan County, New Mexico.

By Madeline Fuerstenberg

Main Image: Mesa Verde National Park, Montezuma County, Colorado; Credit: Adobe/Donyanedomam