I was afraid this might be a tourist trap when we first found it. Honestly this is better than any fossil display and exhibit I have ever seen including the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. Everything here was well displayed with excellent descriptions. Oh, the ice cream is good too! I was a little odd to find since you have to travel through a neighborhood to get there, trust your map. read more

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Awesome museum with active dig sites. Very educational and interesting for young and old. Check the website for hours and tour info. This is the best dinosaur museum I've been to. read more

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My husband and I visited the museum & toured up the Mtns to see fossils sticking out of the Mtns. That was many years ago but the dinosaurs were just as amazing as they would be today to see. It was so worth visiting-I'm a dinosaur buff and it was great watching thu a glass to see the restoration of bones. read more

My dinosaur loving kids absolutely LOVED this museum! The staff wasn't terribly friendly, but it didn't detract from the experience. We would like to do the actual Dino dig site for our next visit. I would definitely add it to your list of places to visit if you're in the area. read more

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This is a great little stop but don't drive too far out of your way. We really enjoyed getting to walk around for a bit and the exhibits are really neat. It's just a much smaller building and experience than expected. read more

AWESOME SAUCE FOR KIDS AND ADULTS! I love palaeontology so this was a must stop for me! Has very nice exhibits, including dig tours, watching the curators, informative videos. And DINOS!! Most cool place! Your children will want a dig tour, mornings are best due to heat! read more

What a delight! Tremendously knowledgeable staff and unparalleled displays. I really enjoyed the interpretation too - the signage and people did a good job weaving lots of fossils into coherent and interesting stories! read more

Very fun and cool spot if you are going by! My kids loved it!! I did see signs that they will be moving to a bigger better location that should be awesome! We also liked the pin board at the front of all the people that have visited this year! read more

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I was amazed that such a small town had such a large exhibit of fossils. It was a nice adventure to spend a couple hours with me daughter exploring all the little nooks and crannies of displays before going into the main room with all the big dinosaurs! There even was a glass window into the shop where they work on fossils. The place had a nice gift shop and an ice cream shop inside. Just make sure you look at the tags on the items you buy. I was just randomly grabbing a few souvenirs and didn't realize I purchased a small $25 children's book. Not everything was that over priced but some things were. I was able to scoop up a child's Tee for $10. This place was definitely worth going to if you are in the area read more

Wyoming Dinosaur Center - Museums Near Me - Thermopolis, Wyoming

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is not a natural history museum in an imposing old stone building. Nope, this place is located off a zigzag of side streets in a large, metal building typically used for light industrial manufacturing. If I were smart, I would've asked a kid to accompany me since they know everything about dinosaurs. I know nothing but I found the smaller fossils in the glass vitrines to be quite beautiful. These are all genuine -- no plaster copies here -- and it was fascinating to see these frozen forms that are hundreds of millions of years old. The main gallery is impressive with its gigantic dinosaurs and a few babies, too. I was told that the majority of the bones here are copies because the originals are too fragile to display. If you're traveling in the area, this center should be on your itinerary. read more

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I really enjoyed this museum. Not a huge place but great exhibits. Many you're allowed to touch if you bring kids. Actually about the right size for kids. Not too big. I leaned a lot. I didn't buy food but they had a snack bar and souvenir area. I would recommend this as a stop read more

Spending a day to Thermopolis is understatedly awesome and remarkably easy for such a small town. This museum was first on our list and looks pretty unassuming from the outside. For just $9 each (with military discount), we saw a great compilation of exhibits! They have both authentic and replica fossils, some reaching the ceiling of the two/three story high building. What's also super cool, is that the area itself is KNOWN for its fossil finds. Just 60 minutes north of Thermopolis is where the largest Allosaurus (like t-Rex) was discovered and is still partly in the earth! They also have a nice store at the end of the museum tour (self-paced). Stocked with cool mineral mini samples and geodes to beautiful fossils, sand art, and even toys. This was a great way to start our day! read more

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Staff were sweet and so much dinosaur knowledge to enjoy. Tells you a lot of Wyoming and the cool history to learn from.

Great collection-don't miss it! We only had the morning to do this museum and we could have stayed all day. It's in an airplane hangar which is perfect for the large skeleton mounts they have. It's a great collection, really nice pieces, good open layout, touchable zones for kids. We really enjoyed the funny and clever labels- I'm only giving you one hint in the photos, search them out yourself! Teensy trilobites to the gigantic Supersaurus and lots of really interesting things in between, like the Archeopteryx, which is really lovely. Great gift shop- clothes and toys, but also a solid group of adult-worthy books! Worth the trip for these dino-loving adults who couldn't go to the Royal Tyrell this autumn. read more

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We didn't actually get to go in. I just popped in here to write a review so others would know it's currently closed due to a staff Covid outbreak. We had no idea since the closure wasn't posted anywhere online and stopped specifically in Thermopolis during a cross country road trip. Our kids were very disappointed since we have been hyping it up for weeks. It does not currently have a reopening date. If you happened on this review because you're in thermopolis and looking for something to do, I highly recommend going to the Hot Sprjngs park! read more

We have a 6 & 9 year old, stopped here for a day on a summer road-trip and the whole family loved it. We scheduled a full day dig that was initially rained out but the staff was great and helped us rearrange to a half day in the lab with hands on fossil cleaning and then a half day dig the following morning. The museum tour was great as well. Nothing but great things to say!! read more

This is a superb destination for dinosaur lovers of all ages. First, there is a very high-quality (air conditioned) museum with specimens from the local dig site (including a full reconstructed Supersaurus skeleton), as well as specimens from all over the world. There is a clear, easy-to-follow timeline of fossils, as well as skeletons of most of your favorite dinos. Next, for a reasonable extra charge, you can take the shuttle to the actual dinosaur dig site and watch as paleontologists dig up actual dinosaur bones. This is a rare and fascinating opportunity for children and adults alike. Highly recommended. read more

Wyoming Dinosaur Center - Dig site at Wyoming Dinosaur Center - Museums Near Me - Thermopolis, Wyoming

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What a fun discovery! All the kids had a wonderful time seeing the fossils and learning about the dinosaur era. What a wonderful stop. read more

Wyoming Dinosaur Center - Museums Near Me - Thermopolis, Wyoming

We did the all day dig and it was totally worth it. Austin, the intern who led us around, was friendly and knowledgeable! The museum has several big time fossils you'd expect to find at the Smithsonian or something. Here are my recommendations for when you go: I'd suggest you begin the day searching for fossils at the site where you can keep what you find as there is no shade and it will get hot fast. You only need about 45 minutes to search as they are on the surface and fragmentary. Spend the rest of the time at the dig site. I'd recommend you bring kneepads and/or your own knee cushion as digging can be uncomfortable and painful after awhile. Don't explore the museum without a tour guide as you will miss a lot of interesting information. Tip your intern as they work hard and don't make a lot of money at all. :) read more

This place is definitely worth the stop! Very interesting and informative. Lots of hands on activities for kids.

This place was cool. They have lots of large dinosaurs in the museum. We took the tour up to look at the dinosaur bones. It was cool to see but not very eventful (I think this just comes with the territory as things are so old and hard to identify). We really liked our driver he was very nice and enthusiastic. They have some nice things for sale in the gift shop as well. It's definitely a place to check out if you are in Thermopolis. read more

I was heading up to Thermopolis for the Gift of the Waters Pageant. I asked my friend and colleague Gary along to do some male bonding. I've always been wanting to check it out. I'm not much for museums, especially private museums, but I do have a long held interest in dinosaurs. For seniors, the price is $8, adults $10, kids under 3 are free. There are many skeletons including one 106ft long. The problem was not being able to see the dinosaurs for the quarries. The exhibits spanned from ceiling to floor. Be prepared to spend a lot of time there to see everything. It was well worth the stop. There are plans to build a new place that will give the dinos their proper exposure. read more

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It was alright. Could use more entertainment! Needs to have personal tour guides! Personal opinion good for younger kids not really adults!

Wonderful dinosaur center. Complete with actual fossils as well as plaster casts. I highly recommend the experience if you like dinosaurs! Also the gift shop is large and full of fun and educational items. Well worth the inexpensive 10 dollar entry ticket. read more

Wyoming Dinosaur Center - Museums Near Me - Thermopolis, Wyoming

Well worth a visit - even if you aren't especially interested in dinosaurs, but even more so if you are. If you come shortly after they open at 8am, you will have about an hour to see the indoor exhibits and use the rest rooms and then be ready for the first (one hour) outdoor tour at 9am - before it gets hot and/or more people show up. I have a private tour - and so was able to ask many questions and learn far more than I ever expected. The indoor exhibit does a great job putting dinosaurs into perspective by starting with the origins of life on the planet and showing a variety of life forms that existed before and during the age of dinosaurs - and how modern birds relate to them. Some of the skeletons found here were not only discovered nearby but are also considered very rare - and include the largest and smallest in the State. The guided tour to one of the outdoor dig sites helps make more understandable some of what is shown in the museum and is where questions you might not have even known you had can be answered. Costs are reduced if purchased together - and discounted even more for military. The staff all now wear masks but you don't have to. read more

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Passing prehistoric time that keeps going for generations, so I hope at least haha, but I like that it has dinosaurs there, and fragments of whatever they can preserve read more

Decided to check this place out after seeing it on multiple brochures. Arrived and seen the outside and became concerned but don't let the building discourage you from checking it out. If you are a person that likes fossils and dinosaurs this is a must stop. The displays inside are well organized and thought out. There is a ton of information. Also this is the only place I know of where u can be taken out to see an actual dig site in the works. The intern that took us out(sorry can't remember name) was full of information and facts and kept me very interested in what they were doing. It is a place that must be seen if you have time. read more

Don't hesitate take the time to visit this gem in Wyoming. The museum is replete with dinosaur specimens. A very pristine facility with a myriad of fossils along with the history. We truly enjoyed this facility. There is lots of information to gain on these magnificent prehistoric beasts. read more

Stance on dinosaurs before visiting the Wyoming Dinosaur Center: "I could deal with them..." Stance on dinosaurs after visiting the Wyoming Dinosaurs Center: "Shoot! I'd be Mesozoic lunch meat!" Before making the trek to this museum, located in the tiny town of East Thermopolis I never really appreciated the sheer size and presence of our earthly predecessors (I blame the 13+ Land Before Time movies). Yet after numerous visits here, I've come to appreciate the impact that that these creatures have left on our society in terms of science and simple discovery. This is one of the few Dinosaur museums in the world with an excavation site nearby. The 500 acre dig site is open to tours and hands on events like "Dig for A Day" where you can get your hands dirty in the field aside local Paleontologists. Of course if digging in the dirt on a 115+ degree day isn't your cup of tea, there's the fully air conditioned museum that contains a large collection of fully mounted creatures including raptors, a tyrannosaurus rex, and creatures that fly, that swim, and scuttle. There's also a really impressive 106 foot long Supersaurus named Jimbo who looms over the majority of the museum. You can watch professionals in action as new fossils are brought in to the fully visible preparation laboratory on site. Of course there's a gift shop as well... to take an adorable (and mini) dino buddy with you. Definitely a spot to bring the kids or those that have a love for natural history. During the summer adult admission is $8.00 and kids are $4.50 for the museum. Double that if you want to add a Dig Site Tour to your visit as well. Unlike larger museums throughout the country, you'll hardly ever find the crowds here. Because of this, you're able to get (quite literally) face to face with the original Thermopolis local called Allosaurid. Though I don't think I would have tried something like that 199,000,000 - 145,000,000 years ago. read more

On our way from Denver to Yellowstone, the kids (ages 9 and 11) had been in the car for over 6 hours and were in need of a break. A work colleague from Wyoming recommended the Dinosaur Center so we stopped in. This place is excellent. We've been in dinosaur museums across the country and this was a great surprise. The layout is very simple and the displays are informative. They have specimens from dinosaurs of all sizes, and several from as far away as China. I particularly enjoyed the display about dinosaur eggs. Visitors of all ages will enjoy this place. Our kids said it was much better than they expected; you will say this as well. read more

This place has loads of outstanding fossils. Not reproductions. The actual specimens. The displayed collection is so comprehensive and impressive that when you walk out of the place you cant believe you haven't been touring the natural history museum in SF or Denver. We did not do the dig site tour, but it was great watching the people clean fossils in the lab. read more

This museum was fantastic. You follow winding corridors through the history of the evolution of life ending with all of the awesome dinosaur skeletons. They really go into depth with their collection through all of the eras and you can see all of the fossil evidence. They also have some models of what things would look like with skin and muscle. There is also information about where the fossils were found and how they were discovered. My favorite part of this museum was, of course, the amazing display of all the dinosaurs. I've loved these extinct creatures ever since I was old enough to understand. They have a giant supersaurus skeleton that makes the mind reel. I loved seeing all of the dinosaurs vertebrae and the structural differences. I also really liked seeing their display of diseases and degeneration of these enormous lizards. There is also a video and projector that tells stories of dinosaurs which I would imagine being great for kids who didn't want to read all of the information around the displays. Their gift shop is really nice too with all kinds of dinosaur stuff as well as fossils and decorative items. I liked their purple Paleopolis shirt so much I bought one! This museum was very well done and I think if anyone you're vacationing with loves evolution or any of the amazing animals that lived millions and millions of years ago, you owe it to them to stop in. read more

If you or your children are interested in geology, natural history, dinosaurs, or fossils, then you will thoroughly enjoy this museum. There's a lot to see. Don't let the building's exterior fool you. Yes, it looks like a large pole-shed. Inside, however, you'll find an interesting gift shop, all kinds of fascinating fossils and interpretive exhibits, and numerous dinosaurs, as well as information on where they were found. We found it all very interesting. If you're a school group, or even a home schooling family, you can arrange a tour. The tour guide was very informative and provided a lot of information and answered many questions we had. If you're anywhere near Thermopolis, set aside some time to explore this museum. Your children, especially, will enjoy it. read more

Very interesting museum on the cusp of bigger things. Frank discussions of climate change, evolution, mating and death. Solid representations of how hard it is to do paleontology with stirring renditions of full size creatures, both actual fossils and replicas. Observation window is also a neat touch. Displays are a tad wordy, and descriptions of individual display pieces can be brief. Solid overview of some famous WY fossil sites provided near the end. Some huge articulated fossils in the gallery! Really wild fish fossils on the way in too. A great way to beat the heat of the day and develop a new appreciation for the span of bizarre life that has existed in this unique planet, and how much there is to learn. If you have a 9-12 yo really into fossils this is a great option. read more

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Fun dinosaur exhibit and museum that my 6 and 8 year old enjoyed. The beginning has a lot of reading and displays that seemed to be disappointing but the main area that housed the full skeletons and larger replicas and displays was much better. One of the most interesting parts was watching students work on fossils through a glass window. The kids watched them for a while, if they weren't there or you go when they aren't working I would have given the center a three star. It has a medium to large sized gift shop and took no more than two hours to do everything they had to offer. Tickets were at 10.00 each. read more

Wyoming Dinosaur Center - Museums Near Me - Thermopolis, Wyoming

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#381 ！ this number is fossil which my son found dinosaur born at Wyoming thermopiles . It was very lucky to dig it out ! I named that dinosaur as my son's name. ダイナソーセンターに 恐竜の 化石掘りに 行き 本当に 化石を掘り当てた。 見つかった希少化石は 米国政府管理に渡される。 発見 番号は#381 名前を息子の名前を命名。 ここには 広大な敷地があり、化石掘り体験と 博物館には 実際の化石が飾られ。 恐竜の化石の クリーニング体験も出来る。 また 掘りに行きたい。 read more

Not only did my son and I love this place because it has amazing fossils, some hands on exhibits and a neat gift shop, but also because I left my $1000 Canon camera there with all of my vacation pictures from the last 3 weeks and they shipped it to me since I live over 400 miles away! The building is not pretty but it is great inside. My son loved the Supersaurus named Jimbo and being able to feel certain fossils and exhibits. Wish I wouldn't have left my camera, but overall a great experience! read more

Wyoming. Dinosaurs. This place is amazing. Jumbo! T-Rex. bang a gong. Triceratops. Pronto mammals! Did you know that proto mammals existed side by side with the dinosaurs? Dinosaurs were dominate but were killed off in one of the extinctions and the proto mammals became dominant. Crazy huh? Lots of neat fossils from places other than Wyoming. You can actually look into the fossil lab. The neatest thing, I thought, was the death throes of the horseshoe crab that got flipped into an anaerobic prehistoric swamp. This cast was at least 20' long. Amazing fossil, Mazing story, amazing place. read more

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is a first class operation that is both interesting and educational. The building is aging but they are desperately trying to raise the funds to build a new museum. The museum lets you get close enough to the dinosaur skeletons to get a real feel for the creatures. All exhibits are clearly described and labeled as to replica or real. The dig site tour requires that you reserve a spot on their mini-bus for a ten minute ride into the mountains. Allow two hours for the tour but visitors are in the shade most of the time. Do not go to WDC unless you have time for the dig site tour. The tour and the museum complement each other. read more

Terrific visit. Excellent tour. Informative and engaging. Well-designed museum and even great gift shop. Highly recommended.