Shower of meteorites plunged to earth some 20,000 years ago, shattering limestone bedrock and leaving an explosion pit 500 feet in diameter. Other pits are adjacent. Over the centuries desert winds silted the crater level with surrounding plains, and the site was not identified as such till the 1920s. Today a marked crater trail winds through the crater.
A new 5,000-square-foot museum and visitors center opened in February 2002. You can view exhibits on meteorites, tektites, meteorite impact products, as well as historical videos and related items of interest with an emphasis on material from outer space.
Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, Sunday 1 to 6 pm. Self-guided tours of the crater are available every day from 9 am to 6 pm. Donations are accepted.