The Museum of the Rockies is located in Bozeman, MT and houses the largest collection of dinosaur bones in the US! The museum also includes Bozeman’s Planetarium. The Museum of the Rockies is affiliated with Montana State University in Bozeman as well as the Smithsonian Institute.
This museum houses the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex skull ever found and the first ever hip fossil containing soft tissue! The museum is a part of Montana’s Dinosaur Trail and is the official repository for paleontological specimens.
The museum’s collections focus on the physical and the cultural history of the Rocky Mountains along with the people and animals that have lived there. The museum’s collection dates back more than 500 million years!
During my return visit to the Museum of the Rockies I was able to delve deep into the museum, as last time I’d only had a few hours to explore and learn. I entered around noon and stayed until 30 minutes before closing, at 5pm. In those 4.5 hours, I was able to tour the entire museum.
The dinosaur exhibit was by far the largest, taking up about 4 or 5 rooms, with a majority of the fossils on display having been uncovered in the Montana area. The exhibits include several species of dinosaurs. However, the real gems were the three Pachycephalosaurus Skulls. skulls, the full skeletons of different sized Triceratops (from babies through full sized adults), and the T-Rex skulls.
The next section covered both Yellowstone and the Indigenous Peoples of the area. This section highlights the way of life for the local indigenous and how they lived while dealing with the extreme weather fluctuations of the area. The exhibition examines how Indians living on the Northern Plains and near the Rocky Mountains have retained their cultural identities despite massive challenges.
The museum’s layout led me into the Paugh History Hall, where I found compelling stories. Stories that connect us with the Rocky Mountains, from early exploration through the mid-20th century. The Paugh Hall illuminates the lives and struggles of those that made the region home. This includes, but is not limited to, the American Indians, fur traders, gold seekers, and settlers.
Enter the Vikings
The final indoor exhibit was a temporary one, named, The Vikings Begin. This collection of artifacts is making its, first ever, tour of the United States and are from the Gustavianum Uppsala University Museum in Sweden.
The collection features boat burial artifacts, helmets, swords, jewelry and more. The start of this exhibit is at the beginning of the museum. Unfortunately, if following the route I took, then you’d enter from the back of the exhibit. Personally, I did not see any difference to the layout had I entered from the beginning.
Located out front, of the Museum of the Rockies, is a Living History Farm. This farm provides insight into the daily lifestyles of the people who settled in Montana during the late 1800’s, including an appreciation for agricultural history. This exhibit is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Sundays Noon – 4 p.m. Everyone should be aware that these hours are slightly different from the rest of the Museum (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and subject to change at any time).
If these exhibits aren’t enough then you can entrench yourself into some interplanetary exploration at the Taylor Planetarium. Here you can journey through the universe watching a Digistar 4K digital projection on a 40-foot dome screen. Showtimes run every hour on the hour beginning at 10 a.m. through to 4 p.m.
The planetarium seats on a first come, first serve basis, with the doors opening 10 minutes before scheduled showtimes. It should be noted that the doors close precisely on the hour and admission cannot be allowed after. This is due to safety concerns during dark conditions.
The Museum of the Rockies includes an upstairs area called the Martin Children’s Discovery Center. This area is designed as a Geology Educator Guide that is inclusive to both children and their parents/families.
All in all, the Museum of the Rockies is a fantastic learning experience that is geared toward the whole family. There is something for everyone and I’d highly recommend transporting yourself through the sands of time. Enjoy the past that helped build our present while laying the foundations for the future.
- Price of admission:
- Adults (18-64) – $14.50
- Seniors (65+) – $13.50
- MSU student, staff, faculty, alumni w/ ID – $10
- Youth (5-17) – $9.50
- Child (5 & under) – FREE
- Members – FREE
