Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum | Provo

The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, located on the Brigham Young University (BYU) campus in Provo, Utah, is a dynamic museum dedicated to the study and appreciation of the living world. Housing thousands of preserved animal specimens, immersive dioramas, and hands-on exhibits, it serves as both an educational resource and a fascinating public attraction that celebrates biodiversity and the intricate balance of nature.

Setting and Atmosphere

Situated near the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the museum’s exterior is modern yet modest-clean lines, limestone façades, and a quiet academic presence consistent with the campus surroundings. Inside, the mood shifts immediately: cool air, soft lighting, and the faint scent of polished wood and taxidermy create an atmosphere both scholarly and exploratory. Large glass cases line the walls, displaying mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects from around the world.

Visitors often enter into a space that feels equal parts university laboratory and natural history gallery, with an underlying sense of wonder that appeals to children, students, and researchers alike.

Origins and History

The museum was founded in 1978 through the generosity of Monte Lafayette Bean, a businessman, philanthropist, and passionate wildlife enthusiast. His extensive personal collection of big-game animals and rare specimens formed the foundation of the museum’s holdings. Bean’s vision was to make the natural world accessible to all-a place where scientific understanding and respect for life could coexist.

Over the decades, the museum has expanded its focus beyond display to encompass biological research, conservation education, and outreach programs across Utah.

Exhibits and Collections

The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum contains more than 2 million specimens, ranging from delicate butterflies to life-sized African mammals. Its galleries are arranged to blend education with visual drama, emphasizing both ecological context and aesthetic presentation.

Key Permanent Exhibits

Life on Earth Gallery: A broad survey of global biodiversity, featuring birds, mammals, and reptiles arranged by habitat and adaptation. Interactive panels help visitors understand ecological relationships and environmental pressures.

African Savanna Hall: The museum’s most iconic space, showcasing full-scale dioramas with lions, giraffes, elephants, and antelope in lifelike poses. Soft ambient lighting and realistic backdrops recreate the vastness of the savanna.

Utah Ecosystems Exhibit: Focused on local wildlife-from mountain lions and black bears to desert reptiles-highlighting the diversity of Utah’s natural environments.

Life Interwoven: A newer addition emphasizing the interconnectedness of life forms, with multimedia displays exploring genetics, symbiosis, and ecosystems.

Bug Room: A lively, educational section dedicated to the fascinating world of insects and arachnids, including exotic beetles, butterflies, and mounted specimens visible under magnifying lenses.

Rotating exhibitions often explore topics such as endangered species, conservation technology, or the work of BYU biologists in the field.

Educational Role and Programs

As part of BYU’s College of Life Sciences, the museum functions as a bridge between academic research and public understanding. Students and faculty contribute to ongoing biological studies, while staff educators deliver guided tours, live animal shows, and school outreach programs.

The “Live Animal Show” is one of the most popular features, allowing visitors to see and learn about live reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals handled by trained guides. These presentations emphasize ecological awareness, animal behavior, and respect for living creatures.

The museum also supports conservation projects, including species documentation, wildlife photography, and the curation of scientific collections used in regional and international studies.

Architecture and Design

The interior is designed for quiet exploration, with wide corridors, high ceilings, and spotlit dioramas that draw attention to detail. A central staircase connects the main galleries, leading visitors through an ascending experience-from local life forms to the vast ecosystems of the world.

Large murals and naturalistic backdrops blend art with science, while ambient sounds-birds calling, rustling leaves-sometimes accompany certain displays, enhancing the sense of immersion.

Visitor Experience

Visitors typically spend one to two hours exploring the museum. Families with children are drawn to the interactive displays, where young visitors can touch animal pelts, examine bones, or identify sounds of native species. University students often visit for class assignments or quiet study in the observation areas, where they can sketch specimens or review field notes.

The experience is both educational and reflective. Standing before a preserved mountain lion or the immense frame of an elephant, one senses the fragile balance of the natural world-a feeling that encourages curiosity rather than mere admiration.

Practical Information

Location: 645 East 1430 North, Brigham Young University Campus, Provo, Utah

Admission: Free to the public (donations encouraged)

Hours: Open most weekdays and Saturdays; closed Sundays and university holidays

Facilities: Gift shop, educational theater, classrooms, and accessible restrooms

Parking: Visitor parking available in designated campus lots

Closing Impression

The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum is more than a repository of specimens-it is a living classroom that celebrates the wonder, complexity, and unity of life on Earth. Each gallery invites reflection on the intricate beauty of nature and humanity’s role in understanding and protecting it. Whether viewed through the eyes of a child marveling at a lion’s mane or a student tracing the structure of a bird’s wing, the museum transforms curiosity into connection-a reminder that life, in all its forms, deserves both study and stewardship.