Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
Nestled in the scenic Big Horn Basin of Wyoming, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis offers something very few places in the world can: Experiencing the thrill of a real dinosaur dig.
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center blends world-class paleontology with hands-on dinosaur adventures. Towering dinosaur skeletons and active dig sites make the Wyoming Dinosaur Center an unforgettable experience.
A World-Class dinosaur experience
Since opening in 1995, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center has grown into one of the premier fossil museums in North America.
The museum houses hundreds of fossils and dinosaur skeletons discovered in Wyoming and around the world, bringing millions of years of Earth's history to life.
Among the highlights visitors can explore:
The Thermopolis Archaeopteryx
One of the most important fossils ever discovered, showing the connection between dinosaurs and birds. The Thermopolis specimen of Archaeopteryx is among the most complete examples of this iconic feathered dinosaur.
Supersaurus "Jimbo"
Stretching an astonishing 106 feet long, this enormous sauropod skeleton dominates the museum and is one of the longest dinosaurs ever mounted anywhere in the world.
Kosmoceratops — Wyoming's New Star
A spectacular horned dinosaur, the Kosmoceratops was discovered in central Wyoming and adds a dramatic centerpiece to the museum. Its ornate crown of horns makes it one of the most unusual ceratopsians ever found.
Extensive Fossil Displays
Visitors will see everything from Jurassic giants to small carnivorous dinosaurs, along with marine reptiles and ancient mammals that show how life on Earth evolved before and after the age of dinosaurs.
Extend the adventure with the dino detour
For visitors who want to go even deeper into the world of paleontology, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center offers a unique Dino Detour tour experience.
This guided tour takes guests into the surrounding hills where fossils have been excavating for decades.
Participants can see active dig sites and tour the Something Interesting "SI" Dig Site. Many of these dig sites have produced the fossils now displayed in the museum.
Along the way, visitors learn how paleontologists locate fossil beds, how excavations are conducted, and what makes the Big Horn Basin one of the most important dinosaur discovery regions in North America.
Standing at these sites gives visitors a rare perspective, the chance to see exactly where dinosaurs once walked and where their bones remained buried for more than 150 million years before being uncovered.
Become a paleontologist for a day
Few places in the world allow visitors to do more than admire dinosaurs in museum exhibits. At the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, you can join a real dinosaur excavation.
Just minutes from the museum, fossil-rich hills contain dinosaur bones discovered by employees, scientists and guests alike. Here, visitors work alongside trained staff using the same tools and techniques paleontologists use to uncover fossils.
Here, visitors work alongside trained staff using the same tools and techniques paleontologists use to uncover fossils that have been buried for more than 150 million years.
Over the past three decades, more than 13,000 bones have been uncovered here, many by visitors participating in excavation programs.
Dig for a Day
Spend a full day in the field learning real excavation techniques and uncovering fossils alongside trained staff. The experience also includes a museum tour and fossil preparation activity.
Kids Dig
A two-day program designed specifically for young dinosaur enthusiasts where kids dig for fossils, prepare bones in the lab, and create their own fossil cast to take home.
Shovel Ready
A half-day excavation experience perfect for travelers looking to experience a real dinosaur dig while short on time. .
Paleo Prep
Go behind the scenes in the fossil preparation lab to learn how bones are cleaned, stabilized and prepared for display.
Dinosaur Academy
A five-day immersive program for high school students interested in paleontology and earth science.
Dino Expedition: Generations
A three-day program designed for grandparents and grandchildren to work side-by-side excavating fossils and learning about prehistoric life.
Teacher's Workshop
Professional development sessions that equip educators with field skills and classroom resources centered around paleontology.
Excavation Programs operate May 25 through September 6. Visit wyomingdinosaurcenter.org for more information and to register for one of the outstanding programs.
A destination worth the journey
If you're planning a family adventure, an awesome road trip, or a deeper dive into science, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center offers something rare: the chance to participate in real dinosaur discovery.
Visitors can stand beneath enormous dinosaurs, examine fossils that changed our understanding of evolution, and then head into the field to search for fossils themselves.
Few museums in the world allow guests to experience paleontology this way, making Thermopolis a must-visit destination for anyone fascinated by dinosaurs.
Planning your visit
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is located in Thermopolis, Wyoming, about six hours from Salt Lake City and an easy stop when exploring Cody and Yellowstone National Park.
Museum hours
Open seven days a week, year-round.
Winter hours (Sept. 16 – May 15)
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Summer hours (May 16 – Sept. 15)
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The museum closes on a few major holidays including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.
Thermopolis is one of the few places in the world where visitors can move from museum galleries to real dinosaur dig sites in the same day. One moment you're standing beneath enormous skeletons that tower overhead; the next, you're out in the Wyoming hills where fossils are still being discovered. At the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, the past isn't just something you read about — it's something you can experience firsthand. For travelers looking for something unforgettable, Thermopolis offers the rare chance to not only see dinosaurs, but to take part in uncovering them.
