Nebraska’s “rhino cemetery” reveals the terrifying way prehistoric animals died

Michael Voorhies’ Baby Rhino Discovery in Nebraska Cornfield

A walk in a Nebraska cornfield changed American history in 1971.

Michael Voorhies and his wife Jane were just doing their job when they found a baby rhino skull in a gully wall. The skull sat in soft ash, still linked to its full skeleton.

Six years later, Voorhies went back with a team and dug up more bones. Photos of a pregnant rhino with her unborn calf soon caught National Geographic’s eye.

Their money helped find over 200 perfect skeletons by 1979.

Now, the Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park stands where corn once grew, waiting for you to walk where ancient rhinos once roamed.

The Couple Who Mapped 500 Square Miles of Nebraska Farmland

Michael Voorhies and his wife Jane walked creek beds and checked worn-down hillsides across northeastern Nebraska’s Verdigre Creek valley.

From 1968 on, they mapped over 200 fossil spots across 500 square miles of farmland. Michael worked as a bone hunter with the University of Nebraska, studying ancient mammals in the area.

Their work meant long days in the field, writing down each fossil spot they found throughout Antelope County’s rolling farmland.

One Tiny Skull Changed Everything in 1971

During a normal survey in 1971, the Voorhies couple spotted something odd sticking out from a gully wall on Melvin Colson’s farm. They found a baby rhino skull, fully intact with its jaw still attached.

The skull sat in soft volcanic ash instead of hard rock. Better yet, the skull connected to a whole skeleton.

The entire animal lay kept just as it died millions of years ago.

Six Years Passed Before Anyone Dug Deeper

After finding the baby rhino, Voorhies didn’t rush back with big equipment. He spent six years studying the first find and figuring out why volcanic ash kept it so well.

This waiting gave him time to create a proper dig plan and look for money for a bigger project. By 1977, he put together a University of Nebraska team ready to see what else lay buried in Colson’s farm.

Twenty Square Meters Revealed an Ancient Treasure Trove

Voorhies came back in 1977 with his university crew to check what might hide under the surface. They dug up just 20 square meters, a space smaller than most living rooms.

This small test area turned up several complete skeletons, all perfectly kept.

The volcanic ash made getting the bones out much easier than chipping through rock while keeping small parts intact.

A Pregnant Rhino Became the Star of the Show

Among the animals they found in 1977, one stood out – a female rhino with her unborn baby still inside her body. Voorhies took photos of this amazing find along with other complete skeletons from the dig.

He knew this pregnant rhino would grab attention, so he made it the main part of his pitch for more money.

National Geographic Couldn’t Resist Funding the Mystery

Voorhies sent his photos to National Geographic Society, hoping they’d see the site’s value.

The images of the pregnant rhino and other complete specimens worked – National Geographic agreed to fund big digs for the summers of 1978 and 1979.

Their money bought equipment, workers, and proper tools for what grew into a massive project showing an ancient disaster scene.

Two Summers of Digging Uncovered Hundreds of Complete Skeletons

With National Geographic’s support, dig teams worked through the summers of 1978 and 1979. They made the dig area 600 square meters, thirty times bigger than their first test.

Workers found more than 200 complete skeletons from the ash, including three-toed horses, camels, and several types of rhinos. All these animals died together, their bodies frozen in time exactly where they fell.

Volcanic Ash Told the Story of a Mass Death Event

The team figured out that all these animals died about 12 million years ago during the Miocene time. A huge volcanic blast from present-day Idaho spread thick ash across the Great Plains.

As the ash poisoned plants and water, animals gathered at this waterhole seeking help. They died one by one as their lungs filled with ash.

The ash then quickly buried them, keeping their bodies in great detail.

Voorhies Fought to Save the Site From Becoming Farmland Again

After the big digs ended, Voorhies became the site’s biggest fan. He talked to Nebraska officials and nature groups about protecting it forever.

He worried the land might go back to being plowed fields or wash away from rain if left alone.

Voorhies kept telling everyone how the site could teach visitors about Nebraska’s ancient past and help science for years to come.

Nebraska Bought the Land and Built a Park

The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation bought the 360-acre site in 1986.

Workers spent five years building visitor areas and getting the fossil beds ready for the public to see. Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park opened to visitors in 1991.

Unlike most fossil displays, this park let people watch real bone hunters finding new specimens – science happening right before their eyes.

The Barn That Protects Rhinos Dead for 12 Million Years

The site became a National Natural Landmark in 2006, recognizing its importance to science. In 2009, the park opened the Hubbard Rhino Barn, covering the main fossil bed.

This building shields the ongoing excavation from weather while letting visitors watch the work year-round.

Today, University of Nebraska teams still spend their summers at the park, carefully brushing away ash to find new animals.

What started with one baby rhino skull has grown into one of America’s most important windows into prehistoric life.

Visiting Ashfall Fossil Beds, Nebraska

You can visit Ashfall Fossil Beds at 86930 517th Ave, Royal, Nebraska from May 1-October 12. Entry costs $8 per person ages 3+ plus a Nebraska Park Entry Permit.

Summer hours are Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-4:30pm (closed Mondays).

During excavation season, you can chat with paleontologists and student interns working on the site where Voorhies found that baby rhino skull.

Don’t collect any fossils though – it’s strictly prohibited.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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