Badlands Dinosaur Museum
188 Museum Drive East, Dickinson, ND 58601
What to Expect
Embark on a thrilling journey to the age of dinosaurs at the Badlands Dinosaur Museum, home to the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in North Dakota! Marvel at fourteen full-scale dinosaur skeletons, including the ferocious Allosaurus and the mighty Triceratops. This is a must-see destination for any dinosaur enthusiast!
The Prehistoric Experience
The Badlands Dinosaur Museum, part of the Dickinson Museum Center, features fourteen full-scale dinosaur skeletons, including an Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Triceratops. Visitors can also see a real Triceratops skeleton and a complete Triceratops skull discovered locally.
Hours: Monday – Saturday 9 AM-5 PM; Sundays 12-5 PM (between Memorial Day and Labor Day only)
Barnes County Historical Society Museum
315 Central Avenue North, Valley City, ND 58072
What to Expect
Meet Gundy the Triceratops, a local legend 65 million years in the making! The Barnes County Historical Society Museum offers a fascinating look into the region’s past, with a prehistoric twist. This impressive fossil is a centerpiece of their diverse collection and a captivating sight for visitors of all ages.
The Prehistoric Experience
The museum is home to “Gundy the Triceratops,” a 65-million-year-old fossil discovered in the Hell Creek Formation. The fossil is over 80% complete, and the skull is 5.5 feet long. The museum also displays a Thescelosaurus fossil known as “Burt.”
Hours: Open year-round; specific daily hours not available.
North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum
612 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505
What to Expect
Step back in time and witness the epic clash of titans! At the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, you’ll come face-to-face with a life-sized T. rex skeleton cast locked in battle with a Triceratops. Don’t miss Dakota, the incredibly rare mummified Edmontosaurus, for a truly unforgettable glimpse into the prehistoric world.
The Prehistoric Experience
The museum’s exhibits feature a life-size cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in combat with a Triceratops. It is also home to “Dakota,” a rare mummified Edmontosaurus with fossilized skin. Additional fossils on display include a Triceratops skull and a Pteranodon.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pioneer Trails Regional Museum
12 First Avenue Northeast, Bowman, ND 58623
What to Expect
Uncover the ancient secrets of southwestern North Dakota at the Pioneer Trails Regional Museum. Here you can see a full-size Triceratops, explore a fossil prep lab, and even participate in real paleontological site tours during the summer. It’s a hands-on adventure into a world that existed millions of years ago!
The Prehistoric Experience
The museum features a full-size Triceratops skeleton in its Paleontology Gallery. It is an active research museum, and visitors can view a fossil prep lab. The museum’s collections include fossils of dinosaurs like Triceratops and Hadrosaurs that have been collected from within a 100-mile radius of Bowman.
Hours: Summer (May-September): Monday-Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm; Winter (October-April): Monday-Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm
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