Near Whitehall in Jefferson County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

A New World: Tertiary Mammals

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 12, 2019

1. A New World: Tertiary Mammals Marker

Inscription. Between the time dinosaurs went went extinct 65 million years ago, and the beginning of the Ice Age, some 2 million years ago, is a time called the Age of Mammals. During this period of time the western third of Montana experienced a variety of geological activities, some of which raised mountains and lowered valleys. The valleys became the homes of a wide variety of interesting and bizarre animals. Many of these have since gone extinct or today live in much warmer climates. During the early part of this period, about 35 million years ago, Montana was home to animals like the double-horned rhinoceros-like brontotheres, and primitive little three-toed horse, camels, and deer. In the later part of the period, 20 million years ago, the valleys hosted bizarre-looking ancestors of our modern elephants, camels, deer and pigs. These included elephants with shovel-like tusks, deer-like animals with forked horns over their noses, and pigs the size of hippos. Montana was such and subtropical. The extinction of these groups of animals would coincide with the coming of the Ice Age, and the arrival of humans less than 50,000 years ago.

Erected by Montana

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Paleontology.

Location. 45° 48.627′ N, 112° 10.12′ W. Marker is near Whitehall, Montana, in Jefferson County. It is on State Highway 55 near Hanson Lane, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 615 Montana Highway 55, Whitehall MT 59759, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country and in Greater Helena.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: American Legion Fish Pond (approx. 5.3 miles away); Modern Hotel (approx. 5.3 miles away); The Great Divide Trophy (approx. 10 miles away); Rope Drive Compressor Wheels

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 12, 2019

2. A New World: Tertiary Mammals Marker

(approx. 10.1 miles away); Sheave Wheels from the Speculator Mine (approx. 10.1 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 527 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 26, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.