John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Fossil park in east-central Oregon, United States
John Day Fossil Beds is a national monument in east-central Oregon comprising three separate units: Sheep Rock, Painted Hills, and Clarno. These areas span about 14,000 acres of semi-arid landscape featuring rocks in shades of red, orange, and gold.
The monument received federal protection in 1975 after fossil discoveries had accumulated over many decades. Scientific study of the area began in 1864 with Thomas Condon's early investigations.
The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center displays fossils of plants and animals from ancient times. You can observe how Oregon's climate shifted dramatically across millions of years through the preserved remains on display.
You can explore all three areas without paying any entrance fees. Driving between the separate units takes considerable time because of the winding mountain roads connecting them.
The rock layers contain fossils spanning about 40 million years, showing transitions from tropical forests to grasslands. This layering tells a complete story of climate shifts that transformed this part of the continent.
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