Museum of the Rockies
Montana
The Museum of the Rockies, affiliated with Montana State University and the Smithsonian Institution, is renowned for its extensive paleontological collections, including the largest collection of North American dinosaur fossils. It houses the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skull ever discovered and a thigh bone containing soft-tissue remains, offering unique scientific insights. The museum's exhibits span over 500 million years of history, focusing on the physical and cultural heritage of the Rocky Mountains and their inhabitants, from Native Americans to early settlers. Permanent exhibits include the History of the Northern Rocky Mountain Region, the Living History Farm with the historic Tinsley House, and the Taylor Planetarium featuring immersive shows. The museum also hosts traveling exhibitions on diverse topics, enhancing its educational appeal. With over 300,000 objects, it serves as Montana's official paleontological repository and is a key attraction on the Montana Dinosaur Trail.
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Tipp: Visit during spring through early fall to experience the Living History Farm, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Purchase tickets online in advance to ensure entry, especially for popular exhibits and planetarium shows. Look for discounts available to Montana residents, students, and seniors. The museum offers educational symposiums and special events that provide deeper engagement with regional history and paleontology.
Interessante Fakten
- •The museum holds the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skull ever discovered.
- •It possesses one of only two complete T. rex skeletons found to date.
- •The Tinsley House, a historic homestead relocated to the museum, includes a functioning outhouse and water pump.
- •The museum's collection spans over 500 million years, covering the natural and cultural history of the Northern Rockies.
- •It is Montana's official repository for paleontological specimens and a key site on the Montana Dinosaur Trail.
Geschichte
Founded in 1957 with funding from Caroline M.
McGill, the Museum of the Rockies has grown significantly, acquiring over 300,000 objects that cover more than 500 million years of history.
In 1980, it expanded its photographic archives with the Schlechten collection, documenting regional history from 1905 to the 1970s.
The museum became a Smithsonian affiliate in 2005, enhancing its access to national collections and programs.
A key milestone was the 1990 discovery of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that remained in Montana, boosting the museum's prominence in paleontology.
The relocation of the historic Tinsley House to the museum grounds in 1989 added a living history dimension to its offerings.
Ortsführer
Siebel Dinosaur Complex
Home to Montana's T. rex, this exhibit features one of the few mounted Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons in the United States, showcasing the massive prehistoric creatures that once roamed the region.
Tinsley House1889
A preserved 100+ year-old homestead relocated from Willow Creek, demonstrating turn-of-the-century Montana pioneer life with costumed interpreters and original features like a water pump and outhouse.
Paugh History Hall
An exhibit weaving the stories of the Northern Rocky Mountains, highlighting Native American heritage, fur traders, settlers, and events from frontier days through World War II.
Taylor Planetarium
A 40-foot domed theater with 104 seats offering immersive astronomical shows that rotate seasonally, enhancing visitor engagement with the cosmos.
Living History Farm1890-1910
An open-air exhibit running from Memorial Day to Labor Day that recreates Montana homestead life between 1890 and 1910 with interactive demonstrations.
Kontakt
Telefon: (406) 994-2251