COVID19 update: Now fully open
Explore the past at Dickinson Museum Center!
Our 12-acre campus features Badlands Dinosaur Museum, Joachim Regional History Museum, the Pioneer Machinery Hall, and Prairie Outpost Park.
Badlands Dinosaur Museum combines vibrant exhibits and children's hands-on interactives, with active scientific research, collections, and fieldwork.
Badlands Dinosaur MuseumExplore the recent past at three history museums housed on our 12 acre campus: Joachim Regional Museum, the Pioneer Machinery Hall, and Prairie Outpost Park.
Explore Dickinson regional historyWhat our visitors are saying:
-
AMAZING. The two beautiful feathered dinosaurs are worth the price of admission alone, but there’s a lot of great stuff here. Great for families and paleontologists alike!
Crater Lake (username) -
Charming Museum. This museum is one that is designed for people to walk around and look and touch and enjoy! The staff was friendly and willing to answer questions. The fossils were from all over the world and arranged in a logical fashion. Children would love the dinosaur exhibits and we older adults enjoyed playing in the sand!
Gayle F -
My kids really enjoyed the models in the center of the museum and the sand topography interactive display at the back where you can also view the preparation of fossils. They enjoyed the outdoor walking tour of the historic buildings as well.
Amanda T -
I loved touching. It was more fun for me because I got to touch actual dinosaur bones. Lots of minerals too and I love rocks.
Rose -
My 3 y.o. most enjoyed the augmented reality sandbox. It was very cool. They had a few other children’s activities, and I bought her a reasonably priced stuffed dinosaur on our way out.
Renee H -
Wonderful place with lots of learning and fun for kids and families alike. My boys are obsessed with dinosaurs and love it here.
Teressa Wickham -
For the size of it (not too big) there are a lot of artifacts. A very nice display. Employees were very nice and knowledgeable. Will definitely be going again!
Erin Leanne S -
Great museum to take the Kids! Fun and informational. They loved the dark room with the rocks and the black lights
Harper Thompson
Museum news
- 03 Mar
ND Juried Student Art Show Now On Display
Read moreThe North Dakota Juried Student Art Show features a variety of artwork from students in grades K-12 from all around North Dakota. This exhibit has
- 27 Jan
Joachim Hosts 2023 Community Art Show
Read moreThe Joachim Regional Museum presents the 2023 Community Art Show which features artworks in a variety of mediums by area artists. On display February 1-28
- 24 Jan
JOB: SEASONAL PALEONTOLOGY ASSISTANT
Read moreSEASONAL POSITION – MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGY ASSISTANT As part of its summer programming, Dickinson Museum Center is seeking a seasonal paleontology assistant for the 2023 summer
- 13 Dec
Job Ad: Museum Visitor Services Coordinator
Read moreWe’re hiring!VISITOR SERVICES / GIFT SHOP – DICKINSON MUSEUM CENTER, NORTH DAKOTA This position is running the museum gift shop and booking tours etc.
- 25 Nov
New species of tyrannosaur dinosaur discovered by Badlands Dinosaur Museum
Read more[Nov-25-2022] Researchers from Badlands Dinosaur Museum today published a research paper which describes a new species of tyrannosaurid dinosaur. Elias Warshaw and Denver Fowler
- 04 Oct
Job Ad: Museum hiring 500hr contract preparator
Read moreTERM-LIMITED (500HRS) FOSSIL PREPARATOR Dickinson ND. We are seeking a Fossil Preparator for a 500-hour contract position to work on assigned projects in the public
- 06 May
Special Exhibit Now On Display: The Passage of Time
Read moreFeaturing a collection of Clocks and Watches from the recently closed Nelson Jewelry store. Carl Nelson opened Nelson Jewelry in 1960 at 113 West
- 02 Mar
ND Juried Student Art Show Now On Display
Read moreThe North Dakota Juried Student Art Show features a variety of artwork from students in grades K-12. This exhibit has traveled all around the state
- 26 Jan
Joachim Hosts 2022 Community Art Show
Read moreThe Joachim Regional Museum presents the 2022 Community Art Show which features artworks in a variety of mediums by area artists. Open February 2-28, Monday-Saturday
- 14 Jan
JOB: SEASONAL PALEONTOLOGY ASSISTANT
Read moreSEASONAL POSITION – MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGY ASSISTANT As part of its summer programming, Dickinson Museum Center is seeking a seasonal paleontology assistant for the 2022 summer
- 09 Sep
2 JOBS: MUSEUM EDUCATOR & FOSSIL PREPARATOR
Read more2 FULL TIME POSITIONS – MUSEUM EDUCATOR & FOSSIL PREPARATOR Badlands Dinosaur Museum at Dickinson Museum Center (City of Dickinson, North Dakota, USA) is proud
- 31 Aug
The Dickinson Museum Center is now Thrivent Choice Enrolled
Read moreYou can now support the Dickinson Museum Center through our non-profit advisory board partner, the Southwest North Dakota Museum Foundation, by donating through Thrivent Choice®
- 01 Mar
Joachim Hosts Community Art Show
Read moreThe Joachim Regional Museum presents the 2021 Community Art Show which features artworks in a variety of mediums by area artists. Open March 2 –
- 18 Feb
JOB: SEASONAL PALEONTOLOGY ASSISTANT
Read moreSEASONAL POSITION – MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGY ASSISTANT As part of its summer programming, Dickinson Museum Center is seeking a seasonal paleontology assistant for the 2021 summer
- 23 Dec
Raptor braincase discovered by Dickinson scientists
Read moreDecember 23rd, 2020: New research from Badlands Dinosaur Museum describes part of a braincase from the dromaeosaurid “raptor” dinosaur Saurornitholestes. Read more on our Press
- 05 Nov
FREE EVENT: Annual Field Report (Nov 19th)
Read moreANNUAL DINOSAUR FIELD REPORT (Nov 19th 6pm): Dr. Denver Fowler and Dr. Liz Freedman Fowler present the latest discoveries from our summer fieldwork digging dinosaurs,
- 19 Aug
DINO DAYS in the Field
Read moreWatch how the paleontology field crew from Badlands Dinosaur Museum finds and digs up dinosaur bones in the beautiful badlands of Montana! This summer, the
- 10 Jul
“Captain Hook”: new species of bizarre dinosaur named by Dickinson scientists
Read moreNew research from Badlands Dinosaur Museum describes a new species of the bizarre alvarezsaurid dinosaurs, called “Trierarchuncus prairiensis” meaning “Captain Hook of the prairie”. Read
- 11 Jun
Dickinson Press: New species provide missing links in evolutionary history of horned dinosaurs
Read more[Jun-11-2020] Badlands Dinosaur Museum’s Denver Fowler, Ph.D., and Dickinson State University’s Elizabeth Freedman Fowler, Ph.D., recently completed research that describes two new transitional species of
- 11 Jun
Museum co-founder Larry League passes away
Read moreWe are sorry to report that co-founder of the dinosaur museum, Larry League, has passed away at his home in Estes Park, Colorado. Further details
- 05 Jun
Two new species of horned dinosaur named by Dickinson scientists
Read moreNew research from Badlands Dinosaur Museum describes two new transitional species of horned dinosaur that fill gaps in a fossil lineage stretching across an entire
- 22 May
The first draft of history’: how in-depth Press coverage informed a true-crime podcast
Read more‘The first draft of history’: how in-depth Press coverage informed a true-crime podcast In the late 1800s and early 1900s, three linked fatalities occurred on
- 15 Apr
True Crime Dickinson podcast: now streamable
Read moreHistorical crimes from our corner of North Dakota! In this new series of video podcasts, Museum Director Bob Fuhrman regales us with stories gleaned from
- 31 Mar
New Video Podcasts showcase Dickinson’s True Crime history
Read moreTrue Crime Dickinson: Cowboy shootout at McGillivray corner Local podcast sheds light on Dickinson’s wild west past Read the rest of the story at The
- 28 Feb
ND Traveling Student Art Show Now On Display
Read moreThe North Dakota Juried Student Art Show for 2018-2019 features a variety of artwork from students in grades K-12. This exhibit has traveled all around
- 25 Jan
Joachim Hosts Community Art Show in February
Read moreThe Joachim Regional Museum presents the 2020 Community Art Show featuring photographs by local photographers. Open February 1-27, Monday-Saturday 9-5 with paid Museum admission.
- 23 Jan
JOB: SEASONAL PALEONTOLOGY ASSISTANT
Read moreSEASONAL POSITION – MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGY ASSISTANT As part of its summer programming, Dickinson Museum Center is seeking a seasonal paleontology assistant for the 2020 summer
- 10 Jan
Who Stamped on Larry the Triceratops’ Tail?
Read moreWho stamped on Larry the Triceratops‘ tail? A new study, published January 7th, from Badlands Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson, ND, describes a Triceratops that suffered
- 14 Oct
Dickinson tourism sees big increase in visitor numbers
Read moreDICKINSON, N.D. – The Dickinson Conventions and Visitors Bureau says they’ve seen a dramatic improvement in tourism numbers from 2018 to 2019. The Badlands Museum
- 02 Oct
FREE EVENT: Annual Field Report (Nov 4th)
Read moreANNUAL DINOSAUR FIELD REPORT (Nov 4th 5.30-8pm): Dr. Denver Fowler and Dr. Liz Freedman Fowler present the latest discoveries from our summer fieldwork digging dinosaurs,
- 11 Sep
FREE EVENT: Dino Chat
Read moreAs part of our forthcoming symposium, “Cretaceous and Beyond” there will be a free public event. Meet with our panel of paleontology experts, learn a
- 28 Aug
Elmer Thompson: The Inventor To Open at Dickinson Museum Center
Read moreElmer Thompson: The Inventor To Open at Dickinson Museum Center The North Dakota Museum of Art, in collaboration with the Dickinson Museum Center, is pleased
- 13 Jun
Dinosaur Art Week, June 17-21
Read moreTo celebrate National Art Day (17th June) we’re running dinosaur art activities every afternoon at Badlands Dinosaur Museum. We will have a range of activities
- 01 Mar
ND Traveling Student Art Show On Display Now
Read moreThe North Dakota Juried Student Art Show for 2017-2018 opens March 1st and features a variety of artwork from students in grades K-12. This exhibit
- 06 Feb
Interview with I Know Dino podcast
Read moreBefore Christmas, Badlands Dinosaur Museum curator Denver Fowler and DSU prof. Liz Freedman Fowler were interviewed by the dinosaur podcast “I Know Dino”. The interview