Texas Travel Guide
Discover Prehistoric Treasure At Waco's Mayborn Museum Complex
It
is hard to imagine that millions of years ago that Mastodons roamed the
landscape around Waco, Texas. Not only have skeletons of 65,000-year-old
Mammoths been excavated in the area; the skeletal remains of a 10,000 year-old
man and child were also found. This ancient history and more can be shared with
family and friends with a visit the Mayborn Museum Complex, located at 1300 S.
University Parks Drive.
What you may not know is that Waco is one of the most important paleontological sites in the world where researchers gather to study the largest concentration of mammoths to have died from a single event. Relatives of both Woolly Mammoths and Mastodons, Columbian Mammoths most closely resembled modern-day African and Asian elephants. Drawn to the riverbed in what was believed to be a time of severe drought, these enormous creatures were caught in a flash flood and unable to escape the torrential downpour.
During their investigation researches found a moving discovery; both the bull and the matriarch were found holding baby mammoths in their tusks in an effort to save them from the rising waters. Even millions of years ago the love of parents for their child existed. Researchers continue their work at the Mammoth Site, so it is not open to the public at this time. No worries though, at the Mayborn Museum Complex you'll find a cast of the matriarch and the young mammoth’s remains on display.
This is a rare exhibit because it is set in the floor of the exhibit hall, and covered with a high-pressure glass. Take a few steps forward, and look down, you'll find yourself directly over the skeleton, which gives each visitor a unique sense of both the scale of the mammoths and the tragedy of the event. For those who enjoy Pod Cast you can download the Mayborn Museum podcast onto your MP3 player, then bring your MP3 player into our 'Wrapped in Tradition' exhibit and enjoy a self-led tour. Throughout the exhibit you will find certain displays and objects that have numbers associated with them. Spend the day at the museum exploring 16 themed Discovery rooms, such as the Communication Room, the Health Room and the Invertebrate Room.
By Melody Schubert
Getting There - To learn events and exhibits at the Mayborn Museum Complex visit http://www.baylor.edu/mayborn. For other area attractions, and to plan your trip visit the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.wacocvb.com.
Use the Plan Your Trip Tab for state travel and tourism resources to help with your vacation planning. Or, the USA State Map to discover more destinations and events to explore.
