Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman

The Museum of the Rockies at the Montana State University in Bozeman inspires visitors to explore the rich natural and cultural history of America's Northern Rocky Mountains.

Located at the geographic center of the Northern Rocky Mountain region, a vast, sparsely populated land which includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and portions of Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Dakotas, the museum has something new to offer everyone.

Explore the rich natural and cultural history of America's Northern Rocky Mountains.

In 1957, the Museum of the Rockies was founded as a part of Montana State University to begin the study and interpretation of this extraordinary region. With this partnership, the Museum of the Rockies reaches diverse communities with engaging exhibits, educational programs and original research that advances public understanding of the collections.

Natural & Cultural History

Despite its relative isolation, the Northern Rockies encompasses a significant evidentiary record of cultural and natural history unique to North America. Wrenching geologic processes including the creation and subsequent draining of inland oceans, mountain building and glaciations have shaped the region's history and influenced later development.

This intensely beautiful place has served as a migratory corridor and as a crossroads for the growth of life on the North American continent. Life here began with primitive marine plants and animals; later came dinosaurs, mammoths and even grizzly bears; then to the migrating Paleo-Americans who traveled along the great ice free corridor into what is now central Montana; on to the rise of Native American people; and, finally to the paths of later explorers such as Lewis and Clark, miners, cattle ranchers and settlers.

A crossroads for the growth of life on the North American continent.

The Largest Natural History Museum in the Region

With 94,000 square feet, the Museum of the Rockies today is the largest natural history museum in the region. It includes the only Digistar planetarium in the Northern Rockies and has developed a fully interpreted Living History Farm on 11 adjacent acres.
The museum is distinguished by the quality of its services to the people of the Northern Rocky Mountains, especially to the rural communities which are characteristic of the region. Because of its rural nature, the museum has chosen to grow through partnerships, working regionally and nationally with groups such as the Nature Conservancy, Yellowstone National Park, the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The only Digistar planetarium in the Northern Rockies.

Research & Collections

Acquiring broad-based collections which are used for research, publication, exhibition and teaching, the museum is growing each year. The permanent collection includes approximately 280,000 items, primarily in archaeology (45%), photo-archives (36%), history (10%), vertebrate paleontology (8%), and ethnology, geology and fine arts (1%).

Hours

• Winter (Labor Day through Memorial Day)
  Museum, Planetarium, and Store: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 12:30-5pm
• Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day) 
  Museum and Planetarium: Daily 8am-8pm 
  Store: Daily 9am-8pm 
  Living History Farm: Daily 9am-5pm - Opens June 1, 2009 
  Lewis & Clark Challenge Course: Open

Fees

• Adults $10
• Children 5-18 $7
• Children 4 and under free
• Seniors $9
• All attractions except laser shows included in one price

Directions

The Museum of the Rockies is located at 600 W. Kagy Blvd on the south side of the Montana State University campus in Bozeman. To contact the front desk, call (406) 994 2251. For the information line, call (406) 994 DINO. E-mail address is: wwwmor@montana.edu

Check out the Museum of the Rockies website for exciting daily programs and classes. Kids and Adults of all ages are invited to come enjoy and explore!