We also believe in bringing together the best science of today, from all over the world, to unite scholars and schoolchildren in the exploration of new knowledge. We believe that an understanding of the past and a scientifically informed view of the present will make for a bright future.

In 1957 the Museum of the Rockies was born as Dr. Caroline McGill’s remarkable gift to the people of Montana. Today, the Museum stewards nearly 300,000 objects and 500,000,000 years of history. One of the finest paleontology collections in North America is found under the Museum’s roof, along with strong core collections in western history, textiles, Native American artifacts, and photography. The Museum’s permanent exhibitions, which tell the story of development in the Northern Rockies over the past 4 billion years, are augmented by changing exhibits representing various facets of cultural and natural history. Indoor exhibitions are complemented by a fully operational, on-site 19th century farm that helps preserve the state’s agricultural traditions.

The Museum of the Rockies is both a college-level division of Montana State University and an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, MOR is one of just 750 or so museums to hold this distinction from the more than 16,000 museums nationwide. The Museum is also an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and a federal repository for fossils.

 OUR MISSION
The Museum of the Rockies inspires visitors to explore the rich natural and cultural history of America’s Northern Rocky Mountains.  In partnership with Montana State University, the museum reaches diverse communities with engaging exhibits, educational programs, and original research that advance public understanding of the collections.