From fossils to the frontier & where art and history tell a story

Prepare yourself to be transported through time as you travel the timeline of the High Plains of Western Kansas and Scott County.

Trace the history of the Western Interior Seaway told by fossil discoveries.  Touch and dig your own fossils while discovering famous rock formations and more.  Travel the corridor with the Native Americans who lived in the area now called Historic Lake Scott State Park and beyond.  Learn about the pioneering spirit that brought settlers, towns, railroads, cattle, and agriculture to the Great American Desert.

Experience Art and History like never before in the Jerry Thomas Gallery and Collection. From Wildlife to Warriors, Jerry’s acclaimed art paired with incredible and rare artifacts bring the past to life.

Photo of Monument Rocks by Miles Elliot Photography

Inland Ocean

As you walk through our doors, you step into our timeline, which began millions of years ago. 

The map at the entrance shows a vast inland ocean, which once covered all of central North America. 

Parts of Kansas were under 900 feet of water — truly an inland ocean.  The fossils from this period are all creatures from the sea or the air, and date back 60-80 million years.

Exhibits

The colorful mural shows what many of the sea and air creatures may have looked like, based on their fossil remains. We have a wonderful collection of fossils and rocks.  Imagine what the inland ocean would have looked like, filled with the huge fish, turtles and clams.