Museums & History

Explore Museums

BOZEMAN

AMERICAN COMPUTER & ROBOTICS MUSEUM

Geek out on the history of computing and robotics with exhibits like a replica of the earliest known geared machine, an industrial robot and an Apple 1.

BIG TIMBER CRAZY MOUNTAIN MUSEUM

Get a historical look at Sweet Grass County, from archaeological and geological finds to a Pioneer Room featuring early settlers and their families, as well as exceptional rotating exhibits.

COOKE CITY

COOKE CITY

MONTANA MUSEUM

Discover the history of Colter Pass, Cooke City and Silver Gate, with exhibits on the Beartooth Highway, and area schooling, gas stations, tourism and wintering in the region.

LIVINGSTON

LIVINGSTON

DEPOT CENTER fun fact MONTANA

Experience historic exhibits and programs about Northern Pacific Railroad history.

To know a place is to know its story. And the story of a place begins long before its storytellers. Here in Montana, we use the spirit and teachings of our history to preserve our past and shape our future. Local heritage, milestone events and the legendary people who influenced this region of Montana are revered and upheld. We treasure our cultural heritage, and that’s apparent in our many impressive museums and important preservation efforts.

From Bozeman’s Museum of the Rockies—housing one of the world’s largest and most famous collections of dinosaur fossils—to the American Computer & Robotics Museum, to smaller museums offering a glimpse into Lewis and Clark’s expedition through the region and the American Indian way of life in the Northern Rockies, our museums provide a true picture of Yellowstone Country’s rich and fascinating history.

Two historic routes that passed through Yellowstone Country are marked today through dedicated preservation efforts: the Old Yellowstone Trail, America’s first transcontinental highway through the country’s northern states, and the Bozeman Trail, an overland route taking travelers between Montana’s gold rush territory and the Oregon Trail.

In Yellowstone Country Montana, the history of the land in all its grandeur is a dramatic story of raw and spectacular earth that was inhabited by American Indians and later settled by miners, missionaries, trappers and ranchers.

Jack Horner, retired curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies, was a scientific advisor for the Jurassic Park movies.

As the Yellowstone story has lengthened and the landscape has evolved, the sense of place has remained one of deep admiration and respect, most notably in the designation of Yellowstone as America’s first national park and also in the continuation of the entire region as a place of discovery—a place to make your own story.

YELLOWSTONE

GATEWAY MUSEUM

A 1906 schoolhouse documents the history of Yellowstone National Park and the Wild West, including some of the country’s oldest archaeological sites.

RED LODGE CARBON COUNTY MUSEUM

Explore the Greenough and Linderman rodeo collections, the Waples family gun and projectile point collection, an immersive coal and hard rock mine exhibit, county archives, and more.

THREE FORKS

HEADWATERS

HERITAGE MUSEUM

See American Indian art and artifacts, Lewis & Clark memorabilia, plus fur trader, mining and agriculture exhibits.

WEST YELLOWSTONE YELLOWSTONE HISTORIC CENTER

Explore the history of travel to Yellowstone National Park. Just down the road, tour the Oregon Shortline 1903 Train Car.

Embark On A Rich Montana Experience

Arts & Culture

There’s no question that artists are inspired by Montana’s extraordinary landscape. Creative genius comes to life here and is on display at every turn. Yellowstone Country’s art galleries, theaters, art walks, festivals and thriving downtowns all offer a world beyond the park that transforms a trip to Yellowstone into a full Montana experience.

Art Galleries

Yellowstone Country’s many galleries house paintings, sculptures, photography, mixed media and stories of the people—past and present— who have shaped and been shaped by the allure of Big Sky Country. Take a stroll through downtown galleries any time of year and don’t miss the summer Art Walks in our small communities.

PUBLIC ART/MURALS

Artistic expression is on display here at every turn, from downtown murals and street art to outdoor sculptures, like the Bleu Horses of Montana, by artist Jim Dolan. These 39 majestic horses (mixed metal) are grouped on a hilltop overlooking Highway 287 on Kamp Hill, and look as natural as a wild herd.

Tippet Rise Art Center

Set in Fishtail, Montana, against the backdrop of the iconic Beartooth Mountains, Tippet Rise celebrates art, music, architecture and nature as inextricably linked through human experience. The center displays large-scale exhibits and outdoor sculptures and hosts classical music and recitals.

THEATER & PERFORMING ARTS

Nature’s show-stopping performance is rivaled by Montana’s performing arts scene. Our small towns support theater companies, historic community playhouses and performing arts centers that help put Yellowstone Country on the map as a cultural destination. Check out our events calendar for a lineup of shows at visityellowstonecountry.com/events.