Rocks, Minerals and Fossils: Exhibitions: Hastings Museum

Visitor Info

Exhibitions

Theatre

Planetarium

Rocks, Minerals and Fossils

An extensive collection of rocks and minerals, including minerals from around the world, Nebraska agates, and florescent minerals can be seen on display. See a quartz crystal that measures 16 inches high!

See fossils from the Cambrian Seas to Ice Age Mammals, including a mammoth tusk, prehistoric bison skulls, giant sloth bones and mastadon teeth. The Brent Kent fossil collection contains fossil specimens dating back as far as 500 million years ago.

Xiphactinus What! - No Dinosaurs? During the Cretaceous Period, what is now Nebraska was covered by a shallow inland sea. This scounts for the lack of land dwelling dinosaur fossils in Nebraska - the simply did not live in this area.

Did you know?

Gigantic beavers and ground sloth once inhabited Nebraska. Fossilized remains of those creatures can be seen at the Hastings Museum, including a ground sloth's femur which measures nearly 3 feet long!

Location: Upper Level