HAGERMAN, IDAHO

Hagerman is a small town situated in Gooding County, Idaho. The fossil beds found in Hagerman make this small town significant, not only as a national monument, but also as a heritage of the world. Fossil excavations began in the 1930's and several important and valuable fossils from the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs have been found in Hagerman, Idaho over the years. This is the reason why the Hagerman Fossil beds were named as a national monument in 1988.

One of the most important sections of the monument is the Hagerman Horse Quarry. The ‘Hagerman Horse’, named after the town it was first discovered in, is the State Fossil of Idaho. It is scientifically known as Equus simplicidens and is also referred to as the Hagerman or the American Zebra. The Hagerman Horse has been identified as one of the oldest species of horse of the genus Equus. Its fossils were first found in Hagerman, Idaho in 1928. The Hagerman area consists of the densest collection of the Hagerman Horse fossils with more than 30 complete horse fossils and parts of another 200 separate horses having been found so far. Fossils of an extinct genus of camel known as Camelops have also been found in the Hagerman, Idaho area.

Camelops were herbivorous creatures that inhabited North America more than 10,000 years ago. Scientists believe that these Camelops closely resembled today’s llamas and desert dwelling camels. In addition fossils of another 220 species of plants and animals from a range of habitats like wetlands and savanna grasslands have been discovered in the Hagerman, Idaho area. The Monument also contains a portion of the Oregon National Historic Trail, which crosses the Hagerman Fossil Beds. Ruts that traveled along the trail many centuries ago can be seen in the Oregon Trail Overlook parking lot. At Hagerman, Idaho you can witness our planet’s history from the last ice age to the dawn of the modern era at a glance.

Tourists are welcome to visit the various museums in Hagerman and join the guided programs which are offered to visitors in some seasons. But Hagerman, Idaho is not only a destination for an educational trip. Visitors can enjoy many fun activities like fishing and hunting, bird watching, canoeing and boating in the area. There are many hotels and resorts in the area making Hagerman, Idaho ideal for a family vacation.