Educational Activities For Kids Near Me in Tulare

Our Mission

The Journey Museum and Learning Center is the education venue that serves as a forum to preserve and explore the heritage of the cultures of the Black Hills region and the knowledge of its natural environment to understand and value our past, enrich our present, and meet the challenges of the future.

History:

The Black Hills are a special place. Many cultures over the centuries have come to value the region for not only its visible wonders, natural resources, and beauty, but also for characteristics nearly spiritual in nature. Time has not changed this admiration for the Black Hills. In the history of American frontier experience, no other development was more influential than the railroad and its iron horses. The steel rails crisscrossed the plains, ran up into the mountains, and brought settlers and town-builders to areas that had been home to native tribes for centuries. Good or bad, the railroad was a physical manifestation of America's quest to grow and prosper.

The Black Hills mining boom began in 1874. Gold was discovered near the site of today's city of Custer by a member of an exploration party lead by Lt. Colonel George A. Custer. By late 1877, events changing the Black Hills forever had occurred: the Battle of the Little Bighorn; major gold strikes in the Deadwood and Lead areas of the northern Black Hills; and the area was now a part of Dakota Territory. team engine in the Black Hills was brought across the prairie by bull team to the Homestake Mining Company at Lead in 1879. In 1881, the Home-stake Company created the first narrow-gauge railroad in the Black Hills to haul its cargo and the public from Lead to several mining camps. In 1885, the first standard-gauge railroad reached Buffalo Gap, Dakota Territory, and was extended on into Rapid City the next year.

The standard-gauge Burlington branch that came to host the 1880 TRAIN's operations was built in several portions between Hill City and Keystone during the central Black Hills mining boom in the 1890s and the first month of 1900. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (hereafter referred to as the Burlington for simplicity), pushed its line into the southwestern corner of the newly-created state of South Dakota in November of 1889. In the spring of 1890, construction of this began at Edgemont as the first phase of the "High Line." In the summer of 1927, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a granite mountain three miles southwest of Keystone as America's Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

In 1948, another monumental project was begun near a future route of the 1880 TRAIN. South of Hill City, a granite mountain was chosen to memorialize the Lakota Indian warrior Crazy Horse. A young sculptor named Korzak Ziolkowski and several Lakota elders proclaimed that the mountain carving would "let others know that the Indian peoples had great leaders, too." During the late 1940s, diesel engines became more common than steam. After years of declining use, William B. Heckman (a public relations man with railroad experience) decided to start a railroad where steam actually operated, and was not just relegated to static display. He and Robert Freer, a sales engineer of diesel locomotives in the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, organized a group who believed "there should be in operation at least one working steam railroad, for boys of all ages who share America's fondness for the rapidly vanishing steam locomotive."

On the morning of August 18, 1957, the first official train operated on the Black Hills Central. Veteran Burlington engineer Earl Coupens piloted the Klondike Casey and its 2 open-air coaches away from the Burlington's vintage1890 Hill City depot; up the over four-percent grade of Tin Mill Hill and on to Oblivion. The route had been nicknamed "the 1880 TRAIN," as it was likened by Heckman to riding a train in the 1880s. While not quite historically accurate (Heckman was never a rigorous advocate of historic accuracy), the dating of the operation stuck, and if nothing else, captured an illusion of the railroad history. Fifty years after its inception, the Black Hills Central is still providing what Heckman envisioned-a place where new generations experience a steam locomotive and a way to commemorate the vital role that railroads played in the development of this country.

Mission Statement

The mission is the preservation, research, and interpretation of the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota and the promotion of understanding and appreciation of the Natural History of the Black Hills with an emphasis on the late Pleistocene.

Purpose

To investigate and interpret this unique late Pleistocene (Ice Age) natural death trap for mammoths and related fauna and flora.

To protect the scientific integrity of the Site through the preservation and collection management of fossils and other geological materials.

To serve as a world-class center specializing in mammoth research.

To provide comprehensive educational programming based on the science of the Site and surrounding natural history.

To foster cooperative efforts in research and education worldwide.

Vision Statement

The vision of the Mammoth Site has always been to establish a significant institution contributing to scientific knowledge and sharing that knowledge with the public.  That knowledge is shared through programs, exhibits, publications and professional scientific interactions directed toward the introduction and engagement of all people to the world of the Pleistocene (Ice Age).  Our aim is to continue to be a world class science center that will remain viable and relevant for generations to come.

More than 26,000 years ago, large Columbian and woolly mammoths were trapped and died in a spring-fed pond near what is now the southwest edge of Hot Springs, South Dakota.

Examining the first mammoth teeth

Landowner, Phil Anderson (center of photo) along with contracted earthmover Porky Hansen (standing), examine the first mammoth teeth along with Dan Hansen.

For centuries the bones lay buried, until discovered by chance in 1974 while excavating for a housing development, earth moving equipment exposed South Dakota's greatest fossil treasure.

Fortunately, through the work of local citizens, the Mammoth Site was preserved. Today it is the world's largest Columbian mammoth exhibit, and a world-renown research center for Pleistocene studies.

From humble beginnings a world-class museum grew.

Now enclosed and protected by a climate controlled building, the sinkhole and the in-situ exhibit of mammoth bones attracts visitors year round. The bones are displayed as they were discovered, in the now dry pond sediments for an "in-situ" exhibit. Walkways allow visitors a close-up view of the fossils. To date, 59 mammoths have been identified, along with the remains of a Giant short-faced bear, camel, llama, prairie dog, wolf, fish, and numerous invertebrates.

Mammoth Tooth

Mammoth tooth.

The importance to science.

The Mammoth Site, a nonprofit corporation (501 C 3), provides the following to the worldwide scientific community: a comparative collection of mammoth remains, Ice Age vertebrates and invertebrates, geology, and 26,000 year old environmental data. This information is the basis for investigations, exhibits, and educational programs at the Mammoth Site. In fact, the Site's methods of research, interpretation, and exhibits are studied for implementation around the world.

The “Visiting Scientist” Program

Dr. Larry Agenbroad was appointed Mammoth Site Principal Investigator in 1974 and, with his guidance, the Mammoth Site has sponsored a "Visiting Scientist" program in which a researcher is invited to study at the site during the month of July.

Dr. Agenbroad with his 1978 digging crew.

Early days of digging proved the value of the discovery...there could be the remains of up to 100 mammoths along with fossils of other Ice Age animals. 

Pictured 1978: Dr. Larry Agenbroad (front row center with hat) with his digging crew. Visiting professionals have included: Dr. Adriana Torres (Mexico), Dr. Laura Luzi (Italy), world renowned mammoth researcher Dick Mol (Netherlands), Dr. Adrian Lister (England), Dr. Gennady Baryshnikov (Russia), Dr. Dan Fisher (USA), and Dr. Ralf-Deitrich Kahlke (Germany). As a slight departure natural history illustrator, Carl Dennis Buell (NY) was invited for a two week period during the 1998 Field Season. Through Buell's study of osteology, he was able to artfully "flesh-out" features of the Mammoth Site's giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus ) and the three of the site's Columbian mammoths.

Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia, zoologist Dr. Alexei Tikhonov was the Visiting Scientist during the dig season July of 2001. While at the site, Dr. Alexei Tikhonov and Dr. Larry Agenbroad collaborated on a "soon-to-be-publication" comparing osteology of the woolly and Columbian mammoth. Alexei is a member of three professional bodies, two of which are involved exclusively with mammoths--- as Scientific Secretary of the Russian Academy of Science's Mammoth Committee, and as the Russian "Mammuthus" Program Coordinator. The "Mammuthus" program is affiliated with Discovery Channel's "Raising the Mammoth" and "Land of the Mammoth" productions.

Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear officially started Crazy Horse Memorial June 3, 1948. The Memorial’s mission is to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians. Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation demonstrates its ongoing commitment to this promise by following these objectives:

• Continuing the progress on the world’s largest mountain sculpture, carving a memorial to the spirit of legendary Lakota leader Crazy Horse and his culture;
• Providing educational and cultural programming to encourage harmony and reconciliation among all people and nations;
• Acting as a repository for Native American artifacts, arts and crafts through the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center;
• And by establishing and operating the Indian University of North America, and when practical, a medical training center for American Indians

About Us

The High Plains Western Heritage Center features a 5-State Regional Museum founded to honor the Old West Pioneers and American Indians of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. Western Artifacts, Western Art, Live Animals and Family History Displays are used as a determinant of Historical Events.

In the mid 1970's, area ranchers were concerned that the story of settlement in High Plains Region would not be preserved. Two ranchers, Harry Blair and Edgar (Slim) Gardner, are considered Founders of the High Plains Heritage Society d/b/a High Plains Western Heritage Center, a Non-profit Organization. 
 
Through Donations and Fundraising efforts, monies were accrued to Purchase Land and start Building the Structure. On September 1, 1989, a Grand Opening Ceremony took place.

Six categories of High Plains History were chosen to be honored: Pioneering, Cattle & Sheep Ranching, Rodeo, Transportation, American Indians, and Mining.
 
Today, the Center provides over 20,000 sq. ft. of Presentation featuring a wide range of Western Artifacts. The Center has a spacious Theatre complete with state-of-the-art Sound System. The Transportation Room features a Concord Stagecoach, Chuckwagon, "Tally Ho" Wagon, Buggies, and Sleighs. Outside Displays include a furnished One-Room Schoolhouse, Homestead Log Cabin and Antique Farm & Ranch Equipment.

Staffed mostly by over 30 Volunteers who donate their time and talent assisting with: Admissions, Bookstore, Clerical Work, Maintenance, Animal Care, and Special Events.

Many Individuals and Businesses from the area contribute time, labor, materials and funding. A cleared Drive in the Winter allows the Center to be Open Year-Round. Grain and Hay are donated to feed the live Longhorn Steers, which are displayed in the Front Pasture of a 40-acre site. The High Plains Western Heritage Center currently provides a Community Forum for Entertainment and Education. The Mission is to oversee the On-Going Historical Preservation of this Region of the West