Sometimes you don’t realize the extraordinary people quietly living among us. The kind who’ve left a mark on the world but remain humble, quietly continuing their passion in small towns like Hot Springs, South Dakota. Frank Garcia is one of those people.
Tucked away at 719 Jensen Highway, next to the local Pizza Hut, Frank runs the World Fossil Finder Museum. A name that barely scratches the surface of what it contains and who curates it. This isn’t just a roadside stop. It’s a treasure trove of ancient wonders, built and cared for by a man who is, quite literally, a living legend in the science world.
And on Saturday, May 24, Frank is opening his museum free of charge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., inviting families, science lovers, and curious minds to view something truly rare…the only articulated prehistoric bison skeleton on display in the region. He’s even sweetening the deal: every child who walks through the door will receive a free fossil, and guests will have a chance to name the bison. The winning name earns a free one-year pass to the museum.
“It’s the only one like it anywhere around here,” Frank said. “No one else has an articulated bison. Not the Black Hills, not the School of Mines, not even the Mammoth Site.”
What makes it even more special is that the bison skeleton was carefully assembled over years, with fossilized bones discovered in creeks across Iowa and even a single piece from Florida. It’s a stunning centerpiece for a museum filled with gifts from the Earth and from Frank’s lifetime of discovery.
And what a life it has been.
Before he landed in Hot Springs, Frank spent over six decades in Florida, where he made scientific history. He’s known in the science community for discovering the world’s richest early Ice Age fossil site in Tampa Bay, a discovery so groundbreaking it was featured on the Today Show, in Time Magazine, Newsweek, and more. PBS even produced a one-hour documentary on his life called Sunrise at Bone Valley, now available on YouTube.
“I’ve discovered over 21 animals new to science,” Frank said, humbly. “And I’ve had several named after me.”
One of those animals is Subantilocapra garciae, a prehistoric relative of the pronghorn antelope. Another is Nanosiren garciae, a tiny ancestor of the manatee, humorously translated by his colleagues to “Little Mermaid.”
Frank has donated every significant fossil discovery to institutions like the Smithsonian and the University of Florida. “Everything important, I’ve always given away,” he said. “I just love it.”
Even now, semi-retired and living in the Black Hills, Frank hasn’t slowed down much. Since opening the museum in 2020, he’s created a space that feels both deeply educational and warmly personal. Visitors can browse a wide variety of fossils in the museum shop, touch real ancient bones, and hear stories from a man who’s hunted fossils across the country and inspired generations of young scientists.
“One of the most beautiful museums I’ve ever seen,” a visitor from Wind Cave once told Frank after admitting he’d driven past the museum for three years without stopping.
Frank isn’t in it for the fame. But he is passionate about sharing the awe of discovery, especially with children. That’s why this upcoming free day on May 24 is so close to his heart.
“I just want people to come see it. It’s something special, and it belongs to all of us,” he said.
If you’ve never met a scientific pioneer or held a piece of Earth’s ancient history in your hands, this is your chance. Visit the World Fossil Finder Museum in Hot Springs on May 24, and you just might walk away with more than a fossil. You’ll leave with a story, and maybe a renewed sense of wonder.
World Fossil Finder Museum
719 Jensen Highway, Hot Springs, SD
Free Day: Saturday, May 24
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Free fossil for every child
Name the bison for a chance at a one-year free pass
Search “World Fossil Finder Museum” on Google to see visitor reviews.And if you’re curious to learn more about Frank Garcia’s remarkable legacy, search Frank Garcia: Sunrise at Bone Valley on YouTube. You won’t regret it.
