Discover Dinosaurs in Montana's Missouri River Country
Northeast, Montana (PRWEB) February 21, 2014 -- Montana’s Missouri River Country has been home to a wealth of world class fossil discoveries and today continues to be a place of prehistoric discovery. Visitors to the area are treated to a look back in time when viewing the remains of many species of dinosaurs at local museums. The public can be a part of these discoveries by taking part in a live dig, attending a presentation or visiting one of the many festivals celebrating the area’s first inhabitants. A part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, Montana’s Missouri River Country has four museums boasting the most complete T-Rex skeleton in the world, full-scale models and hands-on dig site experiences.
Visit http://missouririver.visitmt.com/dinosaurs/ to learn more about the numerous events that get visitors up close and personal with dinosaurs. Each museum features a unique way to experience Montana’s unique paleontological finds.
Garfield County Museum
Located in Jordan, Montana, visitors to the Garfield Country Museum will get to see local fossils including a full-scale model of a triceratops, found just 35 miles from Jordan in 1964. Visitors can also be a part of an operational dig June through August. Take a tour, participate for a day, or get more in-depth with a multi-day excavation experience. According to Jessica Martin, Executive Director of PaleoWorld and Curator of Paleontology at Garfield County Museum, “This collection really is a community effort built by our visitors and dig participants.” Visitors can participate in digs seven days a week but should rsvp with the Museum as soon as travel plans are known. Visitors can contact the museum by calling 406.557.2226 or visiting http://www.garfieldcounty.com/our-museum.html.
Fort Peck Interpretive Center
Step inside the lobby and visitors are greeted by a fleshed out version of Peck’s Rex, the Tyrannosaurus Rex discovered in 1997. This is one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons ever found and is accompanied by several other displays including a Crustaceous Sea and one of the fastest dinosaurs ever discovered. The center is open daily from May through September and features interpretive programs and hands-on children’s activities. For more information call 406.526.3493 or visit http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Charles_M_Russell/visit/visitor_activities/FPIC.html.
Phillips County Museum
Stop into the Phillips County Museum for the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with a 700-pound Apatosaurs femur. The Museum also features artifacts from the area spanning from dinosaurs to Native Americans and bank robbers. Summer programs are available in conjunction with neighboring Great Plains Dinosaur Museum. For more information call 406.654.1037 or visit http://www.phillipscountymuseum.org/.
Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station
This summer the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum will debut a new exhibit including rare Stromatolites from Montana. An interactive display titled “Tiny Mighty World of Micro Fossils” will also be introduced. Adult and junior field programs are also available in July and August through the Field Station. Visitors should plan on visiting June 7 and 8 for the 11th Annual Montana Dinosaur Festival featuring kids’ activities, a new outside Dino Park and the popular “Duckbill Dino Race.” For more information visit http://www.greatplainsdinosaurs.org/.
Montana’s Missouri River Country has a wealth of paleontological history just waiting to be discovered. For more information about visiting Missouri River Country and planning your Dinosaur adventure including maps and event dates, please visit http://missouririver.visitmt.com/.
Sarah Ziska, The Wendt Agency, http://missouririver.visitmt.com/, +1 (406) 454-8500, [email protected]
Share this article