Museum Of The Rockies Bozeman

The Dinosaur Museum In Montana You Cant Miss

Museum of the Rockies might sound more like a geological museum, but trust me youre mostly just going to be thinking about dinosaurs when you leave.

For my sister, living in Bozeman, Montana, comes with its perks like living by one of the best dinosaur museums in the world. When she heard Id never been to the Museum of the Rockies, she was shocked! So last fall I made sure to go, and couldnt believe after my years of living in and frequently visiting Montana, Id never been there.

It is for sure one of the best places to visit in Montana and should be on every dinosaur-lovers itinerary.

Is It Just A Dinosaur Museum

Nope! The Museum of the Rockies also has a planetarium onsite. The Taylor Planetarium requires a separate ticket purchase, but its worth it to see the incredible shows on a massive screen that makes you feel like youre right in the thick of nature or the solar system or whatever the current films are showing.

The films are rotating and there are even often childrens shows . On Monday through Friday, there arent as many showing times, so just the newest film is shown. Check times as they can change, but times are usually at 11 a.m, 1 p.m, and 3 p.m. during the week and every hour on the hour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the weekends.

Museum of the Rockies also has an onsite gift shop, which is the perfect place to pick up a dinosaur-specific souvenir.

In addition to the dinosaur exhibits, there are also a couple other permanent exhibits about Montanas past, and a temporary exhibit

Making the Museum of the Rockies even more special is that its the only Smithsonian-affiliated museum in Montana.

Museum Of The Rockies Bozeman Mt

The Museum of the Rockies is one of the great dinosaur museums in North America. Nestled in the beautiful college town of Bozeman, Montana, the MOR has an outstanding collection of dinosaur fossils and some wonderful displays that any dinosaur enthusiast will enjoy. Dr. Jack Horner is the man behind the paleontology collection here and he is one of the worlds leading paleontologists. Over the past 30 or so years he has: made and written about numerous discoveries proposed interesting and highly debated theories published several books served as a consultant to all of the Jurassic Park films and helped build one of the best dinosaur museums in the world. This great museum is only about 80 miles northwest of the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and if you are visiting Yellowstone and like dinosaurs I highly recommend you make a side trip up to Bozemanyou wont be disappointed.

HIGHLIGHTS

There are plenty of highlights at the Museum of the Rockies . This museum is ground zero for research on two of the most iconic dinosaurs of all: Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex. Montana is a great place to find dinosaurs, and the Hell Creek formation of the late Cretaceous period that is exposed in the state has provided a vast array of fossils, including numerous specimens of these two great dinosaurs. Both have amazing exhibits on display at MOR.

TyrannosaurusTriceratopsTenontosaurus

WHAT IF I DONT LIKE DINOSAURS?

WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

Read Also: Night At The Museum Washington Dc

The Siebel Dinosaur Complex Continuous

The Museum of the Rockies is a primary center for active research and exploration of the information that can be gained from fossils.

These relics have been discovered across much of Montana and the paleontology department at MOR is dedicated to expanding its understanding of the deep past of the surrounding regions.

Here is one of the largest collections of North American dinosaurs in the world and it includes many examples of the terrifying and gigantic carnivorous Tyrannosaurus rex, along with a growth series of the horned Triceratops between juveniles and giant stages.

Many of these fossils are on display in the museums Siebel Dinosaur Complex, where visitors can view the huge mounted T-Rex, one of the few mounted Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in the United States.

Then there are the bones of Big Al, an almost completely-formed Allosaurus from the Jurassic Period.

Visitors can see preserved dinosaur eggs and babies, and the museum contains a large collection of prehistoric mammals fossils and more, exhibited in the museums Cenozoic Corridor.

Museum Of The Rockies

Museum of the Rockies is a museum in Bozeman, Montana. Originally affiliated with Montana State University in Bozeman, and now also, the Smithsonian Institution, the museum is known for its paleontological collections, although these are not its sole focus. The Museum of the Rockies houses the largest collection of dinosaur remains in the United States, possessing the largest Tyrannosaurusskull ever discovered, as well as the thigh bone of a Tyrannosaurus rex that contains soft-tissue remains. The museum is part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail and is Montana‘s official repository for paleontological specimens.

You May Like: Museum Of Natural History New York Hours

Does Mor Participate In The Astc Travel Passport Program

As a member of a science center or museum participating in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, you are eligible for complimentary general admission for two adults, plus children or grandchildren under the age of 18.

Please pack your membership card. Museum of the Rockies is not required to grant benefits to visitors who forget their cards. There is no universal database with all Passport visitors member data for admission staff to reference.

Lost your membership card? Please contact your home science center or museum for a new card.

Museum Of The Rockies Brings The World To Montanaand Shares Montana With The World

The museum brings in three to five changing exhibitions a year to share the world with members and visitors of all ages. Experience the science, art, culture, and history offered in these unique and diverse changing exhibits.

The museum’s primary exhibits include Landforms/Lifeforms and Dinosaurs Under The Big Sky in the Siebel Dinosaur Complex, Welcome to Yellowstone Country, Enduring Peoples, and the Paugh History Hall. On the second floor is the Martin Childrens Discovery Center and its exhibit, Explore Yellowstone, specially designed for visitors up to eight years old.

Rusty, the draft horse, is located next to the museum’s entrance road near Kagy Blvd. This sculpture is one of Jim Dolan’s most recognizable art pieces. It has been a faithful resident at MOR since the early 1980s when the schoolchildren of Bozeman collected recyclable cans raising funds to gift Rusty to the museum.

Big Mike, the impressive life-size Tyrannosaurus rex, welcomes you to the museum. This bronze sculpture was created from a mold of the fossil bones of the Wankel T. rex or MOR 555.

MOR’s seasonal outdoor exhibit is the Living History Farm, an 1890s Montana homestead comprised of the Tinsley House and its surrounding gardens, orchard, and fields.

Filter Exhibitions

Don’t Miss: Promotional Code Museum Of Natural History

Is The Museum Of The Rockies Family

Yes! My young kids loved it. There were tables with dinosaur toys on it and several hands-on exhibits.

Even though they werent quite old enough to truly comprehend the era of the dinosaurs, they knew about dinosaurs from TV and were completely in awe when we walked into the Hall of Horns and Teeth and they saw the monstrous T-Rex and Triceratops. It was so fun to see them wowed by the wonder of history and these magnificent creatures of the past!

On the upper level of the museum youll also find the Martin Childrens Discovery Center, where kids can have hands-on experiences and play in a way that teaches them more about Yellowstone National Park. It even has a mock geyser eruption at certain times throughout the day.

Where Is The Museum Of The Rockies

Before I get more into those dinosaurs and the other exhibits youll see at the Museum of the Rockies, lets discuss location.

Museum of the Rockies is located in Bozeman on the outskirts of the Montana State University campus, which is on the citys southern end. As for Bozeman, its one of Montanas best cities and is located about an hour from Big Sky Mountain. Bozeman is roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Billings, 3-hour drive from Missoula, and about an hour and 45 minutes if coming from West Yellowstone.

Youll quickly realize youre in the right place thanks to the massive dinosaur skeleton in front of the entrance to the Museum of the Rockies.

Don’t Miss: Metropolitan Museum Of Art Schedule

Museum Of The Rockies Presents Evening At The Museum

BOZEMAN Have you ever watched the 2006 movie A Night at the Museum starring Ben Stiller? When the lights go off at the museum, the exhibits come to life. Bozemans Museum of the Rockies has a plan to bring its exhibits to life for the public that includes dinner with the dinosaurs on September 16th and 17th.

An Evening at the Museum is a newly imagined fundraiser for the Museum of the Rockies and what an idea it is! It includes a champagne reception in the Taylor Planetarium, a gourmet dinner hosted in the Siebel Dinosaur Complex, and a chance to listen to speaker Steven Pressfield who is the author of The Legend of Bagger Vance, and The War of Art.

According to Philanthropy Director at MOR, Kathyrn Hohmann, this is a great opportunity to support and help fund the amazing changing exhibits that tour through the halls of the Museum of the Rockies throughout the year. It is also a great chance to support Museum Buddies, which is a childrens program that teaches children about various subjects like paleontology and astronomy, as well as various programs geared toward adults and kids of all ages. Tickets are limited, and A Night at the Museum is only open to Friday night.

Evening at the Museum details:

• Friday, September 17th, 6-10 p.m.
• $2,500 for two Tickets
• $15,000 for a table of eight

To purchase tickets or a table, you can contact Kathryn Hohmann by email at or by phone at 406-994-4973

Where To Next On The Montana Dinosaur Trail

Nearest to the North

Upper Musselshell MuseumHarlowton, 105 miles I-90 east out of Bozeman to Big Timber US Highway 191 north out of Big Timber to Harlowton.

Nearest to the West

Old Trail MuseumChoteau, 195 miles I-90 west out of Bozeman to Three Forks US Highway 287 north from Three Forks to Helena I-15 north out of Helena to Great Falls/Vaughn Junction US Highway 89 west from Vaughn then north to Choteau.

Nearest to the East

Don’t Miss: Museums To Visit In New York

Museum Of The Rockies Quick Tips

Who: Montana State University runs this museum and it is also affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum.

What: An in-depth dinosaur exhibit complete with a T-rex skeleton, exhibits about past life in Montana, and a planetarium, plus rotating temporary exhibits.

When: Open year-round. Open year-round. Opening hours vary depending on season and day of week so check the museum hours page for opening times when youre visiting.

Where: 600 W. Kagy Boulevard, Bozeman MT

Why: To see massive dinosaur skeletons and learn more about Montanas

Is Photography/videography Allowed At Mor

Non-commercial Use:

• The museum permits still and video photography for non-commercial use only, unless otherwise posted. MOR does not permit the use of its name, image, or collections for commercial purposes without prior approval.
• For the safety of our visitors and collections, the use of drones, tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks, staging equipment, and/or lighting enhancements is not permitted at any time.
• Visitors may be filmed, photographed, or recorded by the museum for educational and promotional uses, including but not limited to the museum’s website and other marketing initiatives.

Commercial Use:

• Working members of the media and those wishing to take or use photos or video for commercial use must complete & submit the museums film/photography permit to be reviewed for potential approval by the museum’s . Proof of insurance and a location fee will be required.
• Please submit requests to film, photograph, or record audio at least 14 days in advance of the event whenever possible. Completing the permit does not ensure that permission to film, photograph, or record audio will be granted.
• All permitted must be escorted by a museum staff member while in the building.

Contact the Director of Marketing via or .

Recommended Reading: The American Museum Of Natural History

Museum Of The Rockies Bozeman Montana

Montanas independent non-profit institution the Museum of the Rockies is located in Bozeman, and it also functions as a college-level division of the Montana State University.

On top of that, the facility is a Smithsonian Affiliate which serves as a repository for state and federal fossils and is widely regarded as one of the best research and history museums across the globe.

Visitors can experience one of the broadest collections of dinosaur fossils in the world at the MOR. Some of the most well-known displays of the museum have long included key items from the collection like the mounted T-Rex skeleton.

The museum also presents local Rocky Mountain historical aspects, along with various other avenues such as the Childrens Discovery Center, the Living History Farm, and the Taylor Planetariumcomplete with some of the most advanced digital projection systems available in the world.

Visitors will notice on different occasions the exhibits change and rotate and include items from around the world. Along with that the museum hosts both regional and national historical showcases, planetarium events, educational programs & camps, lectures, and other events.

The Museum of the Rockies is in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and can be accessed on Highway I-90, by exiting on 19th Avenue then continuing south for about 4 miles on 19th Avenue to Kagy Boulevard, after that taking a left and following the signs to the museum.

Is Food Available At The Museum

Museum of the Rockies does not have a restaurant onsite. A couple of restaurants are located nearby.

Food and beverages may not be consumed anywhere in the museum except for in the main lobby, downstairs lobby, or outside.

Bagged lunches must be stowed away at all times while visiting the museum and must only be eaten in the downstairs lobby or on the Bair Plaza . The museum has no refrigerated storage for lunches.

Vending machines are located in the lower level lobby.

Bottle water is not permitted in the exhibition halls, Hager Auditorium, or Taylor Planetarium.

There is a water bottle filling station in the main lobby and lower lobby.

You May Like: Air And Space Museum Los Angeles

Apsalooke Women And Warriors Exhibition Through December 31 2022

Explore the history, values, and beliefs of this Native American community known for their horsemanship, artistic pursuits, and matriarchal ways of life, and honors the tradition of counting coup – performing acts of bravery. Visitors will learn about Apsáalooke origins, cultural worldviews, and the powerful roles that both women and warriors hold in the community through a unique mix of traditional objects and contemporary Native American pieces from the perspective of guest curator Nina Sanders. Learn more.

The Layout Of The Museum Of The Rockies And Where To Find The Dinosaurs

Youll get a map of the museum with your ticket, but Ill make it easy for you. Just turn right after the ticket desk and youll be starting at the right end, aka the dinosaur end.

But before you get to the dinosaurs youll walk through the Landforms & Life Forms exhibit. This will give you some ancient history knowledge of the earth before you head on into the prehistoric era.

Siebel Dinosaur Complex

The dinosaur exhibits in the Museum of the Rockies are located in the Siebel Dinosaur Complex. Its home to the largest collection of dinosaur fossils found in and around the state of Montana. Siebel Dinosaur Complex is where youll find the Hall of Giants, the Mesozoic Media Center, the Hall of Growth and Behavior, and the Hall of Horns & Teeth with the Tyrant Kings exhibit .

Lets dive into that a bit more.

Hall of Giants has some information about the Allosaurus and other lesser known dinosaurs like the Deinonychus and Oryctodromeus, plus some other prehistoric animals like the woolly mammoth.

I thought it was fun that they had some recreations of dinosaurs that imagined what they looked like complete with hair and even feathers! Scientists believe dinosaurs were colorful, similar to how many reptiles nowadays are colorful.

The Mesozoic Media Center had videos and images about paleontology. There was also an area with windows looking onto the bones of dinosaurs in a lab like setting. Certain days and times have actual people working in there on the fossils.

Also Check: How To Get To Whitney Museum By Subway

Explore Yellowstone Exhibition In The Martin Childrens Discovery Centercontinuous

This particular section is geared towards youngsters up to the age of around eight and is based on the science in Yellowstone National Park.

The exhibition serves as an ideal introduction to some of the wonders of Yellowstone, and kids can get involved in various activities such as fishing on the fishing bridge, setting up camp, and cooking a meal in a miniature version of The Old Faithful Inn.

Interactive tools are incorporated like a geyser that kids can pump up themselves, a fire tower equipped with binoculars, and even a few of the sounds and smells that might normally be experienced in the Park.

Anything Else To Know About The Museum Of The Rockies Before You Go

Its a must-see thing to do in Bozeman! Ok, you probably gleaned that already.

Keep in mind this is a big tourist destination so it will be busy on weekends and during peak travel times, so plan on getting there as soon as it opens if you want to avoid the crowds or go during the week in shoulder season or winter. I was there toward the end of September on a weekday afternoon and there was hardly anyone else in the exhibits.

Important Note: For the foreseeable future, online tickets with a reservation for an arrival time are highly recommended as capacity will be strictly limited for the museum and walk-in tickets arent guaranteed.

Also, leave extra camera equipment in the car. You can of course bring your camera, but you are not permitted to use tripods, monopods, or selfie sticks in the museum.

Also, if visiting the Museum of the Rockies in summer, make time in your Bozeman travel itinerary to visit the Living History Farm on the property next door. It is an old homestead house that is affiliated with the museum. Skilled actors present a day in the life of a working farm in the 1800s and show you what it would have been like to live on the farm as you walk around the grounds.

Read Also: University Of Arizona Museum Of Art