Agate Fossil Beds NM - Agate, Nebraska

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, but if you happen to be in Scottsbluff, NE, it's worth a visit.  Not far from the South Dakota border, in the northwest corner of Nebraska, there's not much else there besides the monument.

Scientists believe based on current patterns in Africa, that about 20 millions years ago there was a watering hole that animals gathered and died at, eventually creating the fossil beds.  The surrounding land was a ranch in the late 1800's, when the owners found a fossil and a University of Nebraska scientist started studying them.  One of the more interesting finds, which initially were thought to be fossilized roots, turned out to be fossilized burrows of a rodent.  This is the first time I've ever heard of fossilized burrows, and it definitely looked weird and I could see why one might think it was a root.

The visitor's center has a movie along with some displays of the animals found in the fossil bed and there's a paved 2.5-ish mile round-trip walk to the fossil bed area.  Although you can't really see any fossils in the rocks, you can see the areas that have been excavated and studied.  And the prairie scenery is nice too!