Mammoth Site National Monument (Waco, TX)

This is a post I've been meaning to write for a long time now! It should have been part of the USA Adventure Special, but I couldn't find where I had saved these pictures. I've had a lot more time to update my blog lately, and I'm finally able to catch up on some cool stuff from last year!

arrival at the Mammoth Site

Last spring, while I was in Waco for the annual new teacher orientation, I had a few days between meetings, and took the time to visit some of my favorite places from my years in Waco. I love that city! One day, my future brother-in-law and I drove a few minutes out of town to the Mammoth Site, a dig site and newly made national monument run by the US National Park Service. I wanted to go for years when I was living in Waco, but never made it out there.

mammoth bones

 The City of Waco and Baylor University have been working on the site since its discovery in the 1970s. In 2015 it was designated a National Monument by President Obama, and it now receives federal funding to continue its operation. So far the bones of 24 Columbian mammoths (the largest type of mammoth) from 68,000 years ago have been uncovered, including a nursery.

the dig site

This is the world's largest collection of Columbian mammoth bones. The Columbian mammoth could grow to the size of four elephants, and ate nothing but grass all day long. Besides the mammoths, there is also the remains of a sabertooth cat and an ancient camel.

The site is run by rangers, like a national park, and even has its own national park passport stamp, although I don't have a US park passport... yet!

Columbian Mammoth

Waco really is a cool city. After spending several years there, I really got to know it. I miss Waco, and I'm always glad to go back to visit it every year. Now that my brother and sister are living down there, I'll be glad to have more chances to visit every year when I'm back in the US.

Brazos River from Cameron Park

 And of course, in the springtime, I might get the chance to see some Texas bluebonnets! My girlfriend will be visiting America with me for the first time this spring. I hope we get so lucky as to arrive when the bluebonnets are blooming.

Texas Bluebonnets

Learn more:

http://www.waco-texas.com/cms-waco-mammoth/
https://www.nps.gov/waco/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_Mammoth_National_Monument