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    Waco Mammoth National Monument

    4.5 (192 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Fossils at Mammoth National
    James G.

    Awesome staff. These folks know thier stuff! Easy to get to site. Not a bad price. Even have senior and children deals. The site represents tens of thousands of years worth of discoveries. Very interesting at any age and deliberately engaging for the littler ones.

    David B.

    They dig itself is fairly small and indoors but well worth the $6 admission. Be sure to listen to the Rangers give the "tour". Very informative. Once you finish make time for a less than one mile hike along the outside Eagle Scout Trail. Flat and way hike in and out of the surrounding trees. A great unique part of Waco.

    Mammoth S site
    Rigo M.

    This is an amazing experience for all ages of the family or if your just into fossils. Admission fee is $6 and the actual fossil site is indoors and protected from the elements of the environment. Same area where you purchase your admission tickets is also a gift shop with shirts, stickers, stuffed animals and a whole lot more. From the parking / ticket purchase area it is a five minute trail walk to the actual fossil site and is a really nice outdoors experience. Once at the site you will be greeted by one or two of the staff members who will give you an overall review of the fossil site and answer any questions you may have about the site.

    Julie W.

    Wow- was truly amazed at this national monument. Didn't exactly know what to expect when we decided to visit this park but am glad we did! There is a small admission fee which you will need to see the mammoth bones - this includes a guided tour. Our tour guide -Jamie was a wealth of knowledge on all things Columbia mammoth. She gave an amazing overview. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The tour lasted approximately 50 minutes. There are also some short hiking trails available. If in the area it is definitely worth a stop!

    J D.

    Hidden gem! If you are in the area and you like history you need to stop! Awesome staff they are extremely knowledgeable and friendly! We stopped on a Sunday, would like to come back while the paleontologist is working at the site. Extremely interesting!

    Bailey N.

    I'm starting to become more of a National Park / Monument guy; I joked with my wife that I'm becoming a "dad-nerd" that way. Some years ago, I even bought myself the fun passport you can stamp! Haha! I've been meaning to visit The Mammoth National Monument for years (I occasionally have had business in Waco), and finally got around to it. It is definitely worth seeing - especially for the price. Not only is the historical significance of the find amazing, what also amazes is the story behind the find. Two kids - arguably trespassing on a random farmer's land find a bone sticking out of a riverbed. Turns out, they discovered the fossils of animals who lived in the area 65,000 years ago....It's just incredible. The story behind the find, and the ability to go into an active excavation area really gives you the "science at work" feel. Everyone I came in contact with was very nice. My docent who showed me around the site was very knowledgeable and a pleasure to hang out with for what turned out to be a 25/30min presentation. He presented us all the information flawlessly and answered all of our questions. The only reason I didn't give the fifth star: the welcome center. Outside the welcome center there are 2-3 additional pop up tents / canopies where the National Park Service has their merchandise. It's literally as though the gift shop spilled over outside (understandably for lack of space). However, the set up IS NOT appealing to the eye. All the additional crappola outside really affects the overall feel, in my opinion. Other than that - go see some cool science!

    Phillip E. S.

    For quite awhile I've been wanting to visit here. Since I would be passing through Waco, ending a seven-day vacation, I figured there was no excuse in not checking it out. The price was $6, right up my alley. I was a few minutes early for the Noon tour, so I checked out the gift shop and surrounding exhibits. While waiting, I met a family from the Fort Worth area, which is where I live. We chatted for a bit. Bryce, the National Park Ranger and tour guide, provided a ton of information about the park and exhibits. He answered a bunch of questions from those attending the tour. He was a good sport and very friendly and knowledgable. Please don't hesitate to visit Mammoth National Monument. It is great for the whole family and single individuals such as myself.

    Krasti Q.

    Such a fun and cool place to check out if you're looking for another activity to do in Waco. I learned a lot about Mammoths on the walking tour to the dig site. The dig site is currently an active dig site which was so interesting to see and hear about. Since it's an active site, they're still discovering new findings about the fossils. It was so cool to hear all the recent discoveries and it makes me want to plan another visit just to see what else they uncover. The best part, the site is air conditioned so don't let the Texas heat scare you away. Totally worth checking out the tour. It's only $6 per adult. It's 40 min long and you get to be in the air conditioned site! There also seems to be a walking trail near the dig site which I might check out on another day when the weather is not too hot.

    Jim M.

    What a wonderful stop this was while visiting Waco. It's amazing how they're displaying the bones they have found while allowing continued digging. The enclosed building over the site is keeping it preserved. You are able to walk around and directly over the dig. It takes a short walk through the woods to get to it, but it's a nice walk, not very strenuous at all. We took a guided tour and really enjoyed it. The guide was courteous and informative.Well worth the time & small entry fee to visit!

    Brad C.

    Really fascinating project allowing us to see realtime how history more than 10,000 years ago is found, revealed, and preserved. I didn't even know about the difference in woolly mammoths and Columbian mammoths until visiting here. This is fun because it's not a display, it's actual history being unearthed in front of us. The key is to appreciate the work and the efforts that make this possible. Come and see!

    Christabelle C.

    We went here on a Monday afternoon. Purchased our tickets at the front and walked on the trail to the dig site. Very well-kept and cool inside. Very cool place to visit with kids. Ranger/tour guide was very knowledgeable and informative. Everyone was nice and friendly.

    Bridgett B.

    Waco Mammoth National Monument was an experience like no other. I had no idea what to expect especially upon arrival. You drive into to what seems like a deserted winding road. If you think you are lost you are in the right location. After a few minutes it's a rather neat park surprise. The cost was inexpensive. A variety of discounts are available. The WMNM was a fascinating stop! It's not a huge place, but it's packed with interesting history, and local fossil discoveries. Columbian Mammoths roamed current day Texas thousands of years ago. The first and only recorded evidence of ice age Columbia's mammoths can be found at the Waco MNM. The mammoth skeletons were truly impressive up close--you don't realize how massive these creatures were until you're standing next to one.... Weighing as much as 20,000lbs and standing as tall as 14 feet it's a site to see. Our guide was amazing. She was extremely knowledgeable and is passionate about her job. If you're in the Waco area and enjoy natural history, it's definitely worth a visit to WMNM. Plan to spend a few hours on site. There is the exhibit tour, walking the area, site seeing and of course shopping. This is a fun and educational experience that will leave you with a real appreciation for prehistoric life.

    History of the site
    David R.

    After years of driving past signs on I-35 for the Waco Mammoth National Monument, this year we made plans in our drive south to stop off to see what the site had to offer. What a cool place! Despite being a fairly new addition to the National Park System (2015) there's been plenty of activity at the site, going back to 1978 when the first mammoths were discovered near the Bosque River. The visitor's center is the first thing you will see when you park as well as a ranging queuing up guests for the next tour. Due to the sensitivity of the site, the visits are led by rangers, its about a 10 minute walk from the visitor's center to the climate-controlled site where the mammoths currently are. The cool thing is that this is still an active dig site. The Mammoths that were discovered near here decades ago are at Baylor University, however, thanks to the climate-controlled enclosure additional fossil remains of mammoths and other mammals can remain in situ thanks to the stability granted by the structure. To me, this is really a rare opportunity for the average joe to see an active dig site as well as receiving a great breakdown of what life was like in central Texas when the Columbian Mammoths roamed. The rangers are extremely knowledgeable and while the site inside the structure isn't very large, the rangers will spend probably 20 minutes walking you through the various finds at the site as well as the history. It's pretty fascinating seeing the various fossilized remains separated by thousands of years, so close together, found in different layers of soil, which the rangers will go through great length to explain to you, with one fact being that even though the site became famous for a nursery herd of 19 mammoths that were trapped, the mammoth that you see prominently upon walking in is that of an adult male. Throughout the site you'll see remains of other mammoths, a camel, and other creatures. It is an active dig site so if you visit during the week you may even get to see archaeologists do their work. We really enjoyed our visit to this unique place and highly recommend stopping by if you have an interest in the history of the natural world.

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    Ask the Community - Waco Mammoth National Monument

    Review Highlights - Waco Mammoth National Monument

    You must pay to go in the beautiful modern air conditioned building to see the dig site and real fossils still in the ground.

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    Dr Pepper Museum - I rarely drink soda. When I do drink.  I do enjoy Dr Pepper! 3/2/25

    Dr Pepper Museum

    3.6(514 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    This was an excellent visit today. It was so great learning…read morea little bit of history. I had no idea I would love this place so much. I went here strictly for my husband because he loves Dr Pepper! Everyone here was very kind and helpful. The history of Dr Pepper includes the founders collection and sharing of marbles and on each marble was the second Commandment. Just goes to show you -- "acknowledge God in all you do and he will make your path straight!" He was also very passionate about equal rights for all people and put people of color in his advertisements long before it was acceptable to much of the public. The fact that this soda pop was the first soda pop, even before Pepsi and Coke and was founded right here in our lovely state of Texas , where we're just a little bit closer to God, warms my heart There are lots of very interesting exhibits to see, including the largest Dr Pepper bottle. They have special packages where you can make your own soda pop. They give you a free Dr Pepper with your admittance ticket. The gift shop is very nice, I picked up a lot of nice things in there, including a Dr Pepper shirt. Everyone I saw seem to be having a good time. They have plenty of parking and parking cost $10. Admission to Dr Pepper museum is $12. The package is our additional please check out their website. I highly suggest to visit!

    History and Dr Pepper all in one place? Sign me up!…read more Such a cool walk through history. The history of Dr Pepper, Waco Texas, Commercials, and Marketing. Hot Dr Pepper is a thing y'all. Great timing on our part as they were celebrating their birthday. Free Dr Pepper and free Blue Bell ice cream. When you're in Waco swing bye. It's a great experience. Right across the street from Magnolia Marketplace.

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    Dr Pepper Museum - Gift shop and waiting area

    Gift shop and waiting area

    Dr Pepper Museum - Menu and admission prices

    Menu and admission prices

    Dr Pepper Museum - Jerks jerkin

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    Jerks jerkin

    Armstrong Browning Library

    Armstrong Browning Library

    4.8(8 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    Amazing...simply awesome! Been wanting to visit for quite some time and only now was able to do…read moreso. After walking around for about half an hour, I was informed about a tour starting at 10 a.m. Of course I couldn't pass that up. Rachel, the tour guide, was very knowledgeable and friendly. Her passion for the library and the Brownings showed through the information she gave. Lots of positive energy! In addition to the collection and ambiance/architecture of the library, the grounds are worth checking out. I will have to come visit again in order to really soak in all that the place has to offer. Please don't wait as long as I have to visit.

    "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." OK-I'm not…read morereally going to count the ways I love the library, but I figured most people would recognize that quote. It's not Shakespeare; it's Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This library/museum includes a wide array of artwork, personal effects, and manuscripts by Robert Browning and his wife Elizabeth. If you're a scholar of Victorian poetry, researching here would be a dream come true. Even if you're not a fan of Victorian poetry, the Armstrong Browning Library is worth a visit. The beautiful building, which frequently hosts weddings and special events, contains the largest collection of secular stained glass in the world. You might also enjoy the unique and fascinating architectural details throughout the interior of the building. If pottery or porcelain is your thing, check out the Wedgwood and pottery collections, too. Upstairs, the curators have recreated the Browning's home, complete with their authentic furniture and decor. If you ever wondered about life in the mid-1800s, this could give you a pretty accurate picture of it. Admission is free, so check this place out next time you're in the heart of Texas!

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    Armstrong Browning Library
    Armstrong Browning Library
    Armstrong Browning Library

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    City of Waco - The Castle!

    City of Waco

    4.6(5 reviews)
    5.0 mi

    Waco is one of my favorite places to visit and I do so quite often…read more So much history and so much to do there. Dr. Pepper Museum Mount Carmel Center (that's an eery visit) Baylor University Magnolia Market/Silos (Chip & Joanna Gaines) Waco Mammoth National Monument Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Cameron Park Cameron Park Zoo Spice Village (over 60 vendors) Suspension Bridge The Castle ...& so much more...

    Waco, TX, home on Baylor university, is quite the hidden gem of Texas cities. It is known for its…read moretop three top tourist attractions: 1) Waco Mammoth National Monument 2) Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and 3) Dr. Pepper Museum. Waco is also known for the Waco Suspension Bridge, zoo and parks. However, most notably Waco amassed large media presence from the David Koresh standoff. David Koresh was the cult leader of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect based at the Mount Carmel Center near Waco, Texas. The group believed in apocalyptic prophecies and Koresh claimed to be the messiah. Allegations of child abuse and illegal weapons stockpiling drew federal attention. For 51 days, there was a standoff between the Branch Davidians and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco and Firearms (ATF) and later including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI deployed tear gas, and, in the process, a fire started that took the lives of adults and children. Looking at this very pristine city now, you could not imagine such an horrific event happening.

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    City of Waco
    City of Waco - Selfie at the Silo!

    Selfie at the Silo!

    City of Waco

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    Waco Mammoth National Monument - museums - Updated May 2026

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