The Mastodon lived in North America during the last part of the Ice Age, 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. This well preserved mastodon skeleton was excavated at Highgate, Ontario in 1890. This skeleton actually has a history being in the circus. The Highgate Mastodon exhibit and other paleontological exhibits in the North Dakota Heritage Center, Pembina State Museum, and at State Historic Sites administered by the State Historical Society have been developed in collaboration with the North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS) through the NDGS Fossil Resource Management Program. The North Dakota State Fossil Collection and the NDGS state paleontologist are located in the North Dakota Heritage Center.