Past & Present Science and Nature Store

Past & Present is a unique shopping and educational destination that is fun for the whole family!

We are into our 23rd year at Past & Present and we would love to see you and help us celebrate with many more in-store specials!  Stop in for those one of a kind gifts, and watch for our great new selection of fossils, minerals, gifts and much more!

This is a cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull found in 1906 and on display in Past & Present.

We have hundreds of different types of tumbled stone, rock specimens, and much more.

A rock shop and much more, we have something for everyone. We feature fossils, minerals, crystals, jewelry, books, tools, assorted science and nature materials and unique gifts from around the world. Our free fossil gallery and museum is a great destination for all. At Past & Present, we have hosted visitors from all 50 states and 22 different countries. You can also join us at Past & Present for one of our special events, sign up for one of our classes, or book a scout group or birthday party for that unique experience. To find out more about Past & Present, click on one of the links above.

Don’t forget to stop in and visit our Free Fossil Museum!

We have been collecting dinosaur bones for over 22 years at our site in South Dakota. They are mostly the remains of the duckbilled dinosaur Edmontosaurus annectens. This huge dinosaur was up to 45′ long and lived in large herds. With the adult dinosaur bones we find, we also find juvenile and sub adult bones, indicating that these large animals probably traveled in large family herds. We also find traces of other dinosaurs including ankylosaurs, ceratopsians, raptors, and teeth of the formidable dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex!

A few photos from our collecting trips….

It was very warm and we had seen many rattlesnakes during our visit. This one was “hiding” from us, but very aware we were there.

A rib from the dinosaur Edmontosaurus annectens that I had found on our September trip to South Dakota.

That rib after it was field jacketed and removed.

This is a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth just after I found it!

These are some of the teeth from a maxilla (upper jaw) of an Edmontosaurus annectens.

This is a photo of an Edmontosaur femur (leg bone) I had unearthed last year.

Check out more of our Field Collecting experiences!