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A little-known, fascinating story about Thomas Jefferson and his obsessive quest to find America's first complete mastodon skeleton. Thomas Jefferson: Third president of the United States. Author of the Declaration of Independence. Obsessive prehistoric mammal hunter It's true In this little-known slice of American history, see Thomas Jefferson as never before In the late 1700's, America was a new nation, with a vast west that held age-old secrets: Bones Massive tusks and enormous animal skeletons were being discovered and Thomas Jefferson - politician AND scientist - was captivated. What were these giant beasts? Did they still roam on American soil? Jefferson needed to find out. Funding explorers, including the famed Lewis and Clark, Jefferson sought to find a complete prehistoric mastodon skeleton - one which would advance the young science of paleontology, but would also put this upstart young country on the world stage.