Museum of the Rockies: What to Know Before You Go

Museum of the Rockies is the best indoor attraction in Bozeman by a significant margin, and one of the best natural history museums in the American West. It houses one of the world’s largest collections of dinosaur fossils — this isn’t a small-town museum with a few bones in a case. The paleontology collection is genuinely world-class, largely thanks to Jack Horner’s decades of fieldwork in Montana.

Admission and hours

Adult admission is $16.50, seniors (65+) pay $14.50, children 5-17 are $11.50, and kids 4 and under get in free. MSU students with a valid ID get free admission — a genuine perk worth knowing if you’re traveling with a college student or happen to be enrolled. Military members and their families also receive discounted admission.

The museum is open daily, typically 9 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours to 6 PM in summer. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Plan to arrive right at opening for the best experience — by 11 AM in summer the galleries start getting crowded.

The Siebel Dinosaur Complex

This is the main draw and it delivers. The Siebel Dinosaur Complex houses one of the most significant T. rex collections anywhere in the world, including specimens you won’t see replicated in other museums. The growth series showing a T. rex from juvenile to adult is a standout — it tells the story of how these animals developed over their lifetimes.

Beyond T. rex, the triceratops, hadrosaur, and Maiasaura exhibits are excellent. The Maiasaura display is particularly notable because Horner’s fieldwork in Montana led to the discovery that some dinosaurs cared for their young, which reshaped paleontology. You’re seeing the actual fossils that changed how scientists understand dinosaur behavior.

Budget at least an hour in the dinosaur complex alone. Two hours if anyone in your group is genuinely interested in paleontology.

The planetarium

The Taylor Planetarium runs multiple shows daily, each about 40 minutes long. The shows rotate seasonally — there’s usually a general astronomy show, a kids-oriented show, and sometimes a special feature. Shows run roughly every 90 minutes, so check the schedule online or at the front desk when you arrive and plan your museum visit around a showing.

Planetarium admission is included with your museum ticket, but seats are limited and popular shows fill up. Grab seats early in the day if you’re visiting during summer. The dome itself was recently upgraded and the projection quality is genuinely impressive for a museum this size.

The Tinsley Homestead

The living history farm on the museum grounds is one of the most underrated parts of the experience, and most visitors walk right past it. Open from mid-June through mid-September, the Tinsley Homestead is a relocated 1890s homestead with period interpreters who demonstrate cooking, blacksmithing, gardening, and daily life on a Montana homestead.

It’s especially good for kids who’ve been cooped up in the indoor galleries. The outdoor setting, the animals, and the hands-on demonstrations break up the museum day nicely. Budget 30-45 minutes here. It’s included with general admission.

What to skip or manage

The temporary exhibit halls are hit or miss depending on what’s rotating through. Check the website before you go — some traveling exhibits are excellent, others feel like filler. Don’t plan your visit around a temporary exhibit unless it’s something you specifically want to see.

The children’s discovery area is well-designed and not an afterthought. Kids under eight will probably spend the most time here, and it’s worth knowing about if you need to let young children decompress after the more structured galleries.

Pairing MOR with other activities

A thorough museum visit takes two to three hours. That makes it a perfect half-day activity, leaving the rest of the day open. For a good lunch or dinner after your visit, downtown Bozeman is a 5-minute drive or a 20-minute walk. The restaurant options around the museum itself are limited — the on-site cafe is acceptable but not worth seeking out.

If you want coffee before or after, Treeline Coffee on Main Street is worth the quick drive. Cold Smoke Coffeehouse near campus is the closest solid option.

The museum pairs well with an afternoon at one of the hot springs near Bozeman — particularly Bozeman Hot Springs, which is 15 minutes south and stays open into the evening. In summer, a morning at MOR followed by an afternoon hike is a full, excellent day.

The gift shop

The museum gift shop is larger and better curated than you’d expect. The dinosaur-related merchandise goes well beyond cheap plastic toys — there are quality fossil replicas, geology kits, and science books worth buying. It’s also where you’ll find Montana-specific gifts that aren’t the same stuff sold at every tourist shop on Main Street. Fair warning: if you’re with kids, set expectations before walking in. It’s easy to spend $50 without trying.

Rain day vs. planned visit

MOR works as both a planned destination and a rain day fallback, but the experience is different. As a planned visit, you can time your arrival to opening, catch a planetarium show, and work through the galleries without rushing. Budget three hours minimum.

As a rain day backup, it still works — but know that every other tourist in town has the same idea. Summer rain days at MOR can be packed. If the weather turns, arrive as early as possible or wait until after 3 PM when the first wave of visitors starts clearing out.

Winter visits are the real move for MOR. The museum is nearly empty November through April, you can take your time with every exhibit, and planetarium shows rarely fill up. If you’re planning a Bozeman trip and MOR is on your list, winter gives you the best experience by far.

Practical details

Parking is free and usually available in the main lot, though summer weekends can fill up. There’s overflow parking nearby that adds about a 3-minute walk. The museum is fully accessible and stroller-friendly throughout. Hotels near the museum are plentiful — anything in south Bozeman or near campus puts you within a 5-minute drive.