Wall in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Brontothere

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 19, 2026

1. Brontothere Marker

Inscription.

This fossil of the first brontothere bone ever unearthed was found in 1846 near here on what is now the Buffalo Gap National Grassland.

Jaw bone

The Catalyst of American Paleontology
The jawbone discovery led to one of the first "bone rushes," attracting scientists to the American West in search of fossils and novel geologic structures. The fiercely competitive Bone Wars ignited the then budding science of paleontology in America.

Brontotheres were immense herbivores of the Great Plains and resembles a blend of a rhinoceros and horse.

Chadron Formation [in Badlands strata illustration]
33.7-36.1 MILLION YEARS AGO
This layer is rich in volcanic ash and gray claystone. The environment would have been subtropical with swampy woodlands and scrublands with dry seasons.

[Silhouette drawing] Rough estimate of Brontothere compared to a 6 foot tall person.

Erected by US Forest Service and Badlands Natural History Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Paleontology. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.

Location. 43° 59.451′ N, 102° 14.488′ W.

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Marker is in Wall, South Dakota, in Pennington County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and 7th Street, on the left when traveling south on Main Street. Marker is on the National Grasslands Visitor Center grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 708 Main Street, Wall SD 57790, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West River,

in the Badlands,

and in Greater Rapid City.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hoplophoneus (here, next to this marker); Plant Fossils (here, next to this marker); Ammonites (here, next to this marker); Mesoreodon (here, next to this marker); Mosasaur (here, next to this marker); Welcome to the National Grasslands (a few steps from this marker); St. Patrick's Parish Bell Tower (within shouting

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 19, 2026

2. Brontothere Marker

distance of this marker); The Carrol McDonald Post No. 246 World War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wall.

National Grasslands Visitor Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 19, 2026

3. National Grasslands Visitor Center

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 19, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.