"Los Caprichos" by Francisco de Goya

The Museum of the Rockies which is located just one mile from the Voss Inn is known for its world famous collection of dinosaur fossils and paleontology program. Dinosaur fossils are found in Montana rocks from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Dinosaur dig crew led by paleontologist and curator Jack Horner, science advisor to the Jurassic Park films, excavate fossils which are prepared and studied at the Museum in Bozeman. Some of the most famous dinosaurs in the world such as Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Deinonychus (very similar to Velociraptor) can be seen on display.

The Museum also has exceptional exhibits consisting of several collections including Historical artifacts, Textiles, Archaeology and Ethnographic materials as well as a photo archive collection of historical photography from the Northern Rockies Region of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. The Living History Farm offers a chance to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the Victorian Era. Costumed interpreters demonstrate daily life in the Gallatin Valley circa 1890. The centerpiece of the Living History Farm is the Tinsley House, a two-story farmhouse built in 1889 by William and Lucy Tinsley and their eight children. The interior, which is open for exploration, has been restored to replicate the original residence as closely as possible. Entering the home, you’ll feel the warmth of the woodstove and smell the delicious meals prepared daily for the crew. Cooking is done traditionally—without electricity or running water, but with great enthusiasm. Domestic chores such as cleaning, sewing, spinning, and weaving are part of every day’s experience.  Outside, the gardeners take great pride in their work—tending an heirloom kitchen garden, which supplies a wide variety of produce, and flower, herb, and Native American gardens. Several days a week visitors can enjoy blacksmith demonstrations, musicians playing piano and hammer dulcimer, and children playing period games.

See the swirling sky at Taylor Planetarium

In 1957 the Museum of the Rockies was created as a gift from Dr. Caroline McGill. Today, the Museum holds nearly 300,000 objects and 500,000,000 years of history. One of the finest paleontology collections in North America is found at the  Museum of the Rockies, along with a core collections in western history, textiles, Native American artifacts, and photography. The Muesum is a short 1 mile, or 2 minutes drive, from our Montana Inn.


The Museum’s permanent exhibitions tell the story of development in the Northern Rockies over the past 4 billion years. One interesting section is called “Enduring Peoples”, and covers how Native Americans have managed to maintain their culture since the loss of their land to Euro-Americans. These are augmented by changing exhibits representing various facets of cultural and natural history. As if this wasn’t enough, the Museum also includes a fully operational, on-site 19th century farm which preserves the state’s agricultural traditions, as well as the immerse environment of the Taylor Planetarium.

The Taylor Planetarium is a 40-ft, 104-seat domed theater that provides a unique, immersive and entertaining experience.

Planetariums have the effect of carrying us away from daily life and helping us to learn from a whole new perspective. Many in-house productions, such as “The Dinosaur Chronicles” and “Lewis & Clark and the High Frontier,” have run in other planetariums throughout the country, serving an even greater audience outside Montana.

Some of the new fascinating exhibits at the Museum right now include:

Memories of World War II

Achievements and sacrifice made during WW II are further recalled in an exhibit of photographs from the archives of The Associated Press, Memories of World War II.

“This exhibit is a spectrum of 121 photos from all theaters of the war and the home front, ranging from AP photographer Joe Rosenthal’s classic Iwo Jima flag-raising in 1945 to scores of pictures not seen in decades.  Despite censorship that delayed the release of many pictures and restricted caption information, the wartime cameras recorded dramatic closeups of power and pathos, the leaders and the lost.”

Dinosaurs Under the Big Sky

“Giant Jurassic sauropods, Early Cretaceous bird-like predators, and reptilian sea monsters from the mid-Cretaceous populate this newest addition to the Siebel Dinosaur Complex. Learn about the latest research in dinosaur growth and behavior, and see some of the rarest fossil samples in the world. This hall includes many species of dinosaurs that can only be seen at the Museum of the Rockies.” The Siebel Complex also includes the Mesozoic Media Center, Hallway of Growth Behavior and Halls of Horns and Teeth are other engaging aspects of the dinosaur exhibit. Some showcase rare fossils and the largest Tyrannasourus rex skull in the world. Not to be missed by children and adults alike!

Museum of the Rockies Web Site

Hours, Admission and Directions for the Museum

We hope you might visit the museum while staying at our Montana Bed and Breakfast, and hope to see you soon!