🦕Natural History Museum🏠 Homeschool ProgramsPaid admission

Museum of the Rockies

Bozeman, Montana

About

The Museum of the Rockies on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman is one of the most remarkable natural history institutions in the American West. A Smithsonian affiliate with deep ties to the university's research programs, it holds the largest collection of dinosaur remains in the United States — including the world's largest T. rex skull — and has played a central role in transforming scientific understanding of dinosaur behavior and biology. The Siebel Dinosaur Complex showcases the museum's extraordinary paleontology collections, featuring multiple T. rex specimens, a Triceratops, and an array of Cretaceous-era fauna. The research of curator Jack Horner — one of the inspirations for the character Alan Grant in Jurassic Park — is woven throughout the exhibits, introducing visitors to the science of fossil discovery and the evidence for dinosaur social behavior. The Taylor Planetarium offers digital sky shows and astronomy programs for visitors of all ages. Explore Yellowstone connects the museum's natural history mission to the iconic ecosystem 90 miles to the south. Paugh History Hall traces Montana's human history from Indigenous peoples through the homestead era, and the seasonal Living History Farm (open summer and fall) re-creates a working 1890s Montana homestead with costumed interpreters. A Smithsonian affiliate, the museum benefits from collaborative exhibitions and shared resources. A special policy allows all Montana schoolchildren to visit free during organized school visits, ensuring the museum's resources reach every corner of the state. Summer camps, homeschool programs, field trips, and adult lectures make the museum a year-round hub for learning in the Northern Rockies.

🏠 Homeschool Programs

This institution offers dedicated programming for homeschooling families. Visit the website for details.

Subject Areas

🦴 Natural History🪨 Earth & Geology🔬 Science🏘️ Local History📜 History

Best For

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All Ages👨‍👩‍👧 Families🏫 School Groups🎒 Elementary (6–10)🧑 Tweens & Teens (11–17)

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Hours of Operation

Daily 9am–5pm

Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.

Admission

Paid admission

Adults $20, Youth $14. Montana schoolchildren free on school visits. Members free.

✓ Membership available

ASTC

ASTC Travel Passport Program

Members of the Association of Science and Technology Centers' Travel Passport Program offer free or discounted admission to members of other participating institutions. Over 300 science centers worldwide participate.

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