Big Bone Lick State Park

Big Bone Lick State Park

The name of Big Bone Lick State Park comes from the Pleistocene megafauna fossils found there. Mammoths are believed to have been drawn to this location by a salt lick deposited around sulphur springs.

Ancestors of the sloth, bison, and horse also grazed the vegetation and salty earth around the springs that the animals relied on for their diet.

The area near the springs was very soft and marshy causing many animals to become stuck with no way to escape.

It bills itself as "the birthplace of American paleontology," a term which dates from the 1807 expedition by William Clark undertaken at the direction of President Thomas Jefferson.

The visitors center (opened 2004) features indoor and outdoor exhibits of fossils, American art, and a 1,000 pound mastodon skull as well as a gift shop.

Location

3380 Beaver Rd
Union, Boone County
Kentucky, USA

Getting There

There is no direct public transportation to Big Bone Lick State Park. The closest bus station is in Florence, KY, which is about 25 miles from the park. From there, you may be able to take a taxi or ride-sharing service to the park.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Kentucky that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.