Bozeman, MT – Bozeman is one of our favorite stops in Montana. In addition to excellent hiking access, the town has two gems, the Museum of the Rockies and the American Computer & Robotics Museum. We have visited both and recommend them for tourists of all ages. We like to stay at the Sunrise Campground when visiting Bozeman.
Museum of the Rockies
Museum of the Rockies (MOR) is a college-level division of Montana State University, a Smithsonian Affiliate, and a repository for federal fossils. There are changing exhibits from around the world, permanent indoor and outdoor regional history exhibits, planetarium shows, educational programs, insightful lectures, benefit events, and a museum store.The museum is home to an excellent collection of Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops fossils. In addition, you will find numerous other specimens including Big Al, one of the most complete Allosaurus ever discovered, Deinonychus, a North American cousin of Velociraptor, and Oryctodromeus, a dinosaur that dug burrows and cared for its young inside its dens. Dinosaur enthusiasts will be enthralled.
Tyrannosaurus Rex on display at Museum of the Rockies (2015 iphone photo)
Triceratops skull (2015 iphone photo)
The Museum of the Rockies is located at 600 West Kagy Blvd; Bozeman, Montana 59717. It is open year round with seasonal fluctuations in hours. It does close for several major holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Check the website for current hours and any special closures. Admission fees: Adults$14.50, Kids ( age 5-17) $9.50, Children (4 and under) Free and Senior Citizens (age 65+) $13.50. They offer a AAA and active military discount.
American Computer & Robotics Museum
Anyone who loves computers and their history from multi-room behemoths to being built in garages and today’s small but mighty devices, will be able to get their geek on at the American Computer & Robotics Museum. The museum traces the development of computers and their importance and uses through the years. This (2017) was our second trip to the museum which had moved into a larger space and added a robotics exhibit. We enjoyed seeing devices from our youth, but knowing they are now museum worthy made us feel a little bit old. Mike’s first computer was an Atari 400, and he was excited to see one on display. The museum looks at the use of early computers in WWII and in the NASA Space Program. There is a great display about the German Enigma coding machine. They chronicle the early home video games. There’s an original Apple I computer board signed and donated by its inventor, Steve Wozniak.
Early calculating devices on display
The Gutenberg Printing Press revolutionized sharing written word
ENIAC – one of the earliest electronic general-purpose computers around 1946
An early IBM Card Punch machine
Mike checks out the early personal computers
An Atari 400, this was the model of Mike’s first computer
A motherboard
A display on the founding of Twitter
The American Computer & Robotics Museum is located at 2023 Stadium Drive, Bozeman, Montana 59715. It is half a mile west of the Museum of the Rockies. The admission is FREE! Donations are welcome and help to keep the museum running.
