Museum of the Rockies
The Museum of the Rockies, on the Montana State University campus, is home to one of the largest dinosaur fossil collections in the country, including a T. rex and a full Triceratops skull. It's routinely ranked among the best natural history museums in the West.
Beyond dinosaurs, the museum's Taylor Planetarium and the seasonal Living History Farm make it an easy half-day stop that works for kids and adults alike, and a solid option for a rainy or cold-weather afternoon.
Plan your visit
Address: 600 W. Kagy Blvd., on the Montana State University campus.
Hours: Open daily, 9 am to 5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Closes at 1 pm on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Tickets: Adults $20, seniors (65+) $17, youth (5 to 17) $14, children 4 and under free. Tickets are sold at the museum only.
Parking: Free during regular hours.
Time to allow: A couple of hours, up to half a day.
Prices as of October 2026.
What you will see
Big Mike, the museum's T. rex skeleton, stands in the Hall of Horns and Teeth in the Siebel Dinosaur Complex. A bronze Big Mike greets you outside. The dinosaurs are always there, and rotating exhibits change through the year. There is also a historical side, with homestead examples that history fans like. Taylor Planetarium shows cost $6 more for ages 5 and up. The Living History Farm is included with admission and open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
With kids
Explore Yellowstone is a hands-on exhibit in the Martin Children's Discovery Center, built for children up to age 8 with an adult. Kids pump up a geyser, climb a fire tower, fish from a bridge and explore a miniature Old Faithful Inn. The geyser is off from 10 am to noon each day for quiet time. A café, Rocky Rex's Roasts, is on site and open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm. The gift shop is worth a stop.
