Waco Mammoth Foundation

10/08/2025

The Dig Shelter is open weekends at Waco Mammoth National Monument during the federal shutdown!

Beginning this Friday, the Dig Shelter will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for the next two weeks.

Thanks to a donation from the partners at the Waco Mammoth Foundation, National Park Service employees will be onsite, allowing the Dig Shelter to be open. Guided tours will also resume for the next two weekends.

Additionally, the nature trails, outdoor exhibits, the Welcome Center, and the gift shop remain open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with city staff offering educational activities, displays, and interactive discussions. Once the federal shutdown ends, the Dig Shelter will return to its regular operating schedule 7 days a week during park hours.

Plan your visit and experience a closer look at Waco's prehistoric past at this nationally significant site.

10/07/2025

Exciting News: The Monument Reopens This Friday!

The Waco Mammoth National Monument is opening its doors again, made possible through the generous support of our donors and the incredible partnership between the Waco Mammoth Foundation, the National Park Service, the City of Waco, and Baylor University. This reopening is a powerful example of what can be achieved when communities, organizations, and supporters come together. Together, we’re proud to ensure this incredible site remains open for exploration, education, and discovery.

Tours will continue to be led by National Park Service Park Rangers, offering engaging, educational experiences for visitors of all ages.

Reopening Weekends:

Friday, October 10 – Sunday, October 12 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday, October 18: Fossil Festival — fun, family-friendly activities celebrating science, history, and discovery!

This reopening is only possible because of supporters like you. Thank you to all our donors, members, and community partners for making this possible. To join our mission, visit our website to become a member or make a one-time donation — link in bio.

We hope to see you this Friday and throughout these exciting weekends!

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The Waco Mammoth Foundation

09/29/2025

Fall Fossil Festival is back!

Waco Mammoth National Monument's annual Fall Fossil Festival returns on Saturday, October 18.

The City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department and the National Park Service invite you to come enjoy family activities. Plus, meet the Artist-in-Residence, Merli Guerra, as she presents TRACE and DATUM performances!

The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Admission to the event is free. Guided talks of the fossil bed in the Dig Shelter will be open all day (additional fees apply). The park's hiking trails, restrooms and gift shop will also be open.

09/23/2025

Here’s a little insight for all the new friends we’ve recently gained! 🦣

09/22/2025

Paleontology, technology and the arts have come together through the work of Merli V. Guerra, assistant professor of dance technology. Inspired by the Waco Mammoth National Monument and its fossils of a nursery herd of Pleistocene Columbian mammoths, Guerra aimed to “make the intangible tangible” by creating a trace fossil of a dance.

The result is “Fossilizing the Ephemeral,” Guerra’s research and performance project, which uses motion capture, 3D modeling and fabrication to create physical sculptures based on dancers’ movements.

“Dance is never performed the same way twice,” Guerra explained. “Each sculpture is innately unique with every printing, just like the bones themselves. It’s a way of preserving something that’s usually fleeting.”

Read more about Guerra’s collaboration with the National Park Service and being named Waco Mammoth’s first artist in residence: tx.ag/StepsOfGiants

09/18/2025

We are gearing up for an exciting Fall season at the Waco Mammoth National Monument! 🍂

Step back in time with your little explorers this October at Waco Mammoth National Monument! Reading with a Ranger returns Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m., beginning October 4 through the end of the month.

Families will enjoy free interactive stories outdoors, filled with fun, learning, and the world of mammoths.

Save the dates and we'll see you there! (Upon arrival, please check in at the Welcome Center, 6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr.)

City of Waco - Public Information

09/08/2025

✨ What happens when paleontology, technology, and the arts intersect?

At this year’s Gala, our guests experienced the stunning answer through Merli V. Guerra’s Fossilizing the Ephemeral.

The word ephemeral means lasting only a short time — like a dancer’s movement that disappears as quickly as it appears. Guerra’s project uses motion capture, 3D modeling, and fabrication to “fossilize” those fleeting moments, turning dance into permanent sculptures.

Inspired by the nursery herd of Columbian mammoths discovered at the Waco Mammoth National Monument, Guerra is now the Monument’s very first Artist in Residence in collaboration with the National Park Service💫.

09/03/2025

🍂 We’re back from a short break, and our hearts are overflowing with gratitude! The support that continues to pour in after the Gala reminds us how much our community believes in the Waco Mammoth Foundation and our work with the National Park Service to support the Waco Mammoth National Monument. 🦣

This fall is full of celebration and connection:
📍 Fossil Fest at the Monument – October 18
📍 Día de los Mu***os Parade – November 1

Mark your calendars — we can’t wait to see you there!

***os

08/25/2025

Happy birthday National Park Service!
🥳🥳

Please be patient with us, we’re from the 1900s.

That old? The National Park Service was created on August 25, 1916 to "preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." Over 109 years, we've grown into more than 433 national parks and many programs that reach communities around the country.

Today, using , share your favorite park stories, trip photos, and best memories from visiting a national park!

07/21/2025

Did you know? 🦣
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is made possible through a one-of-a-kind partnership between the National Park Service, the City of Waco, Baylor University, and the Waco Mammoth Foundation.

Together, we protect, preserve, and share this incredible site with the world.

A Night with the Mammoths was a celebration of that shared mission—and of the community that makes it all possible.